COVID 19- Top immigration and Visa FAQs

Aspiring immigrants to the US and Canada may have a number of questions in their minds pertaining to the application process in these testing times. True, a number of visa and application centers are closed, but the deserving will not lose out. The questions listed below will answer a lot of your questions and clear your doubts.

The status of express entry draws due to Covid 19

None of the governments have announced closure. However, most of the applications received may be considered incomplete because the candidates might not be able to produce all the required documents because of the lockdown. Some of the candidates may also be sick, are in self-isolation or quarantined. However, there is still doubt pertaining to the frequency and the results of the draw. Some even speculate that it will be a long time before the visa center and application portals will start functioning properly.

Will people with approved work permits be allowed to Enter Canada?

Applicants with an approved work permit, having plans to move to Canada prior to March 18, 2020 are reported to be still eligible to move to Canada. Although confirmed by IRCC and CBSA, the authorities still urge travellers to carry all the required documents to be able to allowed into Canada. It must be noted that the rules and the entry policies are ever changing and that there is no guarantee that all the CBSA officers have been fully briefed or have apt information or understanding of the most up-to-date information. The documents that might be demanded include:

• Copy of the approved work permit
• A letter from the company confirming that the vacancy is still there
• A self-isolation plan
• Plan for accommodation and getting groceries
• A letter from the Canadian Consulate that issued the valid permit explaining that the person falls under an exemption and should be allowed to travel.

What would be fate of Immigrants to Canada where the Passport and work permit both expiring?

While it is a pre-requisite to get them renewed, owing to the present state, there are fewer options available because of the lockdown of certain centers. IRCC is aware of such a situation and is therefore trying to publish a policy bulletin for those finding themselves in such a situation. However, the timing for the publication is yet to be decided.

Documents unavailable due to lockdown, will my application for Visa to Canada be considered?

IRCC understands the challenges people are facing because of COVID. If you are submitting incomplete applications, state why you have not submitted the concerned documents. Please ensure that only those documents that cannot be attained because of the lockdown have not been provided. Officers will retain all the application forms and review them 90 days from the receipt. Further actions, including extensions for supplying documents will be taken after the first review at the end of 60 days or 90 days.

Is online application for Canadian Visa preferred these days?

It is absolutely recommended to apply for visa online since the IRCC is minimizing the labor force in offices, just like any other country. Therefore, there is a huge backlog of paper applications that need to be scrutinized. This will obviously hit the processing time for all types of paper applications. Therefore, if you have the option to file online, it is highly recommended.

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Pallavi Sen Gupta

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