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covid-19 and landing as PR at land border crossing

Danaan

Star Member
Jan 23, 2017
70
17
Virginia, USA
App. Filed.......
15-05-2017
My spouse and I received our CoPR and have not landed yet. We are US citizens living near the BC border in Washington state, and had planned on landing by private vehicle within the next few months. Since we have CoPR, are we now considered permanent residents for the purpose of the travel restrictions, or do we have that status only after we have landed? I expect the exemption for US citizens on entering Canada to be removed any moment now..
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,138
8,788
My spouse and I received our CoPR and have not landed yet. We are US citizens living near the BC border in Washington state, and had planned on landing by private vehicle within the next few months. Since we have CoPR, are we now considered permanent residents for the purpose of the travel restrictions, or do we have that status only after we have landed? I expect the exemption for US citizens on entering Canada to be removed any moment now..
I have checked and there do not appear to be published details on these. Wait a few days, they usually do publish (and then sometimes clarifications later as needed).

I do NOT expect exemption on US citizens to be removed. Personal opinion only. The economies and functioning are too tightly integrated. (It doesn't mean it's impossible, just unlikely)

So either way I expect you will be able to enter.

Note though: US citizens entering are subject to the 14-day (I think that's the number) self-isolation. So in fact the number of US citizens entering in the next while is going to drop tremendously. Tourism from abroad is basically shuttered.

Of course, the situation is changing fast. By the time you want to travel, these temporary restrictions might be gone, or there may be something else happening.

For the time being, just keep planning as you had been before. As the date gets closer, it may make sense to alter depending on circumstances.
 

arajoba

Hero Member
Nov 6, 2019
217
48
My spouse and I received our CoPR and have not landed yet. We are US citizens living near the BC border in Washington state, and had planned on landing by private vehicle within the next few months. Since we have CoPR, are we now considered permanent residents for the purpose of the travel restrictions, or do we have that status only after we have landed? I expect the exemption for US citizens on entering Canada to be removed any moment now..
You will be considered PR once you validate CoPR but IRCC maybe lenient on extending CoPR dates if you cannot land.
 

Danaan

Star Member
Jan 23, 2017
70
17
Virginia, USA
App. Filed.......
15-05-2017
I just found this on the CanadaVisa covid-19 page: "According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), individuals who are in possession of a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) and permanent resident visa (PRV) are allowed to travel to Canada. Individuals are instructed to contact IRCC via its web form if their COPR and PRV expires, or is about to expire, due to their inability to travel to Canada due to COVID-19. In such cases, IRCC will re-open the permanent residence applications of such individuals for review in 90 days."
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,138
8,788
I just found this on the CanadaVisa covid-19 page: "According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), individuals who are in possession of a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) and permanent resident visa (PRV) are allowed to travel to Canada. Individuals are instructed to contact IRCC via its web form if their COPR and PRV expires, or is about to expire, due to their inability to travel to Canada due to COVID-19. In such cases, IRCC will re-open the permanent residence applications of such individuals for review in 90 days."
Do you have the link and date? I checked a few hours ago and the info was still from before yesterday's announcements.
 
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Earlspencer

Newbie
Oct 20, 2019
6
2
I just found this on the CanadaVisa covid-19 page: "According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), individuals who are in possession of a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) and permanent resident visa (PRV) are allowed to travel to Canada. Individuals are instructed to contact IRCC via its web form if their COPR and PRV expires, or is about to expire, due to their inability to travel to Canada due to COVID-19. In such cases, IRCC will re-open the permanent residence applications of such individuals for review in 90 days."
Please link the website where you see this information.
 
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Belarusian

Hero Member
Sep 3, 2019
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armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,138
8,788
Note, this does not say that COPR/visa holders (i.e. that are not yet PRs) will be allowed to enter. It seems to be information that was put up before yesterday's announcement. It only deals with extending COPR/visa for those unable to travel.

I expect they will publish something with detailed information that will clarify for COPR/visa holders. I think there's some reason to hope they may allow but speculation only. By law, someone who hasn't landed yet is not a PR (yet).

This issue doesn't apply to the original poster here as the temporary ban on entry doesn't apply to Americans.
 
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Belarusian

Hero Member
Sep 3, 2019
899
444
Note, this does not say that COPR/visa holders (i.e. that are not yet PRs) will be allowed to enter. It seems to be information that was put up before yesterday's announcement. It only deals with extending COPR/visa for those unable to travel.

I expect they will publish something with detailed information that will clarify for COPR/visa holders. I think there's some reason to hope they may allow but speculation only. By law, someone who hasn't landed yet is not a PR (yet).

This issue doesn't apply to the original poster here as the temporary ban on entry doesn't apply to Americans.
I think they would delete this link, as they had already done with some (or changed!)
they are encouraged to use their existing COPR and PRV to land.
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,138
8,788
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DiNaV

Hero Member
Feb 25, 2016
745
100
Category........
Visa Office......
NDVO
NOC Code......
2171
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
17-May-2016
AOR Received.
22-Apr-2017
IELTS Request
30-Apr-2016
Med's Done....
06-Mar-2017(Pre-meds)
I think they would delete this link, as they had already done with some (or changed!)
they are encouraged to use their existing COPR and PRV to land.
Maybe they would but this was really good news for me :(.

I also noticed that this page clearly states: These are COVID-19 program delivery instructions for applications from all permanent residents. So I am really hoping that this is what they plan to continue irrespective yesterday's update about allowing only PR in.
 
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DiNaV

Hero Member
Feb 25, 2016
745
100
Category........
Visa Office......
NDVO
NOC Code......
2171
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
17-May-2016
AOR Received.
22-Apr-2017
IELTS Request
30-Apr-2016
Med's Done....
06-Mar-2017(Pre-meds)
I think since IRCC has not mentioned anything about valid COPR holders on this link https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-special-measures.html there is no change to what is mentioned here https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/coronavirus/permanent-residence.html so I dont think the restriction applies.

If they wanted to restrict the COPR holders from landing they would have mentioned in this section:
If you’ve been approved for permanent residence Lastest update: March 15, 2020
If your permanent residence application has been approved, but you can't travel to Canada before your documents expire, use the web form to tell us why you can’t travel.
Once it’s possible for you to travel, use the web form to let us know. We’ll then give you more detailed instructions regarding restarting the processing of your permanent residence application.
 
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canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,553
7,204
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
I think since IRCC has not mentioned anything about valid COPR holders on this link https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-special-measures.html there is no change to what is mentioned here https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/coronavirus/permanent-residence.html so I dont think the restriction applies.

If they wanted to restrict the COPR holders from landing they would have mentioned in this section:
If you’ve been approved for permanent residence Lastest update: March 15, 2020
If your permanent residence application has been approved, but you can't travel to Canada before your documents expire, use the web form to tell us why you can’t travel.
Once it’s possible for you to travel, use the web form to let us know. We’ll then give you more detailed instructions regarding restarting the processing of your permanent residence application.
Again, that information is from BEFORE the ban was announced. It is now out of date. You need to follow the latest updates from the government. Until the most recent information is updated to clarify, foreign nationals that don't meet an exemption cannot board a plane to Canada as of tomorrow.

https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2020/03/new-measures-for-covid-19-response.html

For practical purposes, the denial of boarding would apply to:
  • all foreign nationals on flights to Canada other than trans-border flights, and
  • any foreign national on a trans-border flight who has resided outside the US and Canada in the last 14 days.
In simple terms, you cannot board a plane to Canada if you have been outside of Canada or the United States in the last 14 days, unless you are a Canadian Citizen, Canadian Permanent Resident or in transit to a 3rd country.

The measure will come into force on Wednesday, March 18, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) EDT. It would not apply to air crews, travelers arriving in Canada in transit to a third country, Canadian Permanent Residents, diplomats, or immediate family members of Canadian citizens.
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,429
13,459
My spouse and I received our CoPR and have not landed yet. We are US citizens living near the BC border in Washington state, and had planned on landing by private vehicle within the next few months. Since we have CoPR, are we now considered permanent residents for the purpose of the travel restrictions, or do we have that status only after we have landed? I expect the exemption for US citizens on entering Canada to be removed any moment now..
Would wait to land especially given the high levels of covid in Washington.
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,138
8,788
There are news reports that Canada and USA are working on an agreement to suspend non essential travel. Not surprisingly, defining what non essential travel is not so easy. Tourism would be out but with mandatory self isolation, tourism is effectively suspended now too (assuming travellers follow the instructions).
At any rate, more changes afoot and detailed regs will take some time. As before, not much you can do but continue to prepare and wait.