Latest guidelines for permanent residence applicants

Latest guidelines for permanent residence applicants

To stop the spread of coronavirus pandemic, Canada adopted a number of measures related to travel and immigration to Canada for new permanent residents. Due to the crisis, as a new permanent resident, you may be wondering how the Canadian Government is addressing the situation.

According to the latest guidelines by the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, there has been a number of modifications in policy for new permanent residents, who were planning to come and settle in Canada in the upcoming months.

Canada continues to accept new permanent residence

Currently, the government is continuing to receive applications for permanent residence. If an individual cant provides all the required documents due to COVID-19 disruptions, then the candidate’s application will be retained and reviewed within 90 days.

If the application package is complete, then it will be processed according to normal procedures.

However, if the supporting documentation is missing and can’t be provided by an applicant, then an explanation letter should be added referencing service disruptions which affected the process.

Please note that an explanation letter is important and will be reviewed in 90 days. In addition, the IRCCall will process the submitted applications in the order in which they are accepted.

Furthermore, if IRCC finds an explanatory letter incomplete or thinks that the reasons provided is unrelated to the coronavirus pandemic, then the file will be rejected.

While delays in the processing is already expected, principal candidates for PR who are in Canada with their dependents abroad will have their permanent residence applications processed.

However, if you are a principal candidate, you will not be issued a PR unless your dependent who is abroad is unable to travel.

Applicants will be provided a notification when travel is again possible.

Approved COPRs and PRVs

Candidates who already have Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) or Permanent Resident Visa (PRV) must contact IRCC informing them through using a Web form that they are not able to travel before the expiry date of the document.

IRCC then will decide when to process the file based on the candidate’s particular circumstances.

In addition, applicants with COPR and PRV, who don’t prefer traveling must inform IRCC describing their situation, so that the changes can be modified in their file.

The file which is related to the expiry date of the document must also contain a reminder. If a candidate happens to able to travel prior to the end of the validity date of COPR and PRV, those documents will be encouraged to use their existing document to land in Canada.

However, if your COPR or PRV is already expired, and you have informed IRCC of your inability to travel before to the expiry date of the document, then your files will be opened and reviewed within 90 days.

Reopening of applications

Once the candidate informs IRCC through the WEB form that he can travel again, his application will be reopened for confirmation given that the candidate and his family members, have passed immigration-related medical examinations, criminal and security checks, and have valid passports.

If the candidates have not informed IRCC within a 60-day waiting period that they can travel, then they need to add a note to the application for consideration after an additional 60 days.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, IRCC has stated many times that the restrictions will not have an impact on refusal or closure of applications that are currently in progress due to a lack of required documents.

In order to support the accommodation of foreign nationals, the IRCC has introduced a variety of special policy measures and improved flexibility during the coronavirus crisis.

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