Inland common-law covid-19 update

[mattandally]

Hey!

Not expecting an answer immediately, as it's still quite early. But we're currently in Canada, and it looks like it's heading for a lock down. We've heard the visa offices are closed, and to expect delays in applications. If anyone finds out an update on the length of the delays, that would be great.

I also have a question about work permits. My partners visa record (tourist extension) was accepted and we have until 31st August for the work permit to come through. If it's delayed a few months, that's a lot of potential lost income that we weren't predicting. Is the Canadian government offering any kind of financial support to people waiting on work permits or permanent residency applications that are being processed? We're not allowed to leave, but it seems we're also expected to survive of no income. I work in retail and my place of work has closed, I'm on an a zero hour contract so currently unemployed.

I know it's still early, but we're really starting to panic here.

Matt & Ally

 

[canuck78]

Hey!

Not expecting an answer immediately, as it's still quite early. But we're currently in Canada, and it looks like it's heading for a lock down. We've heard the visa offices are closed, and to expect delays in applications. If anyone finds out an update on the length of the delays, that would be great.

I also have a question about work permits. My partners visa record (tourist extension) was accepted and we have until 31st August for the work permit to come through. If it's delayed a few months, that's a lot of potential lost income that we weren't predicting. Is the Canadian government offering any kind of financial support to people waiting on work permits or permanent residency applications that are being processed? We're not allowed to leave, but it seems we're also expected to survive of no income. I work in retail and my place of work has closed, I'm on an a zero hour contract so currently unemployed.

I know it's still early, but we're really starting to panic here.

Matt & Ally

How long have you been in Canada? You may qualify but visitors don’t qualify for financial support. Doing inland sponsorship always comes with a period with no income for the spouse being sponsored

 

[mattandally]

We've been in Canada since May, with a trip to the UK for a month in October. We've been in Canada continuously for the last 4 months though. We were expecting a few months of no work while waiting for visas, but with the virus affecting office opening hours, people are speculating there could be significant delays in approval which means even more time out of work.

Matt currently has visa status, but were waiting on a work permit. When that comes through it is going to be difficult to find any kind of job if retailers and most hospitality workplaces are in lockdown.

 

[canuck78]

We've been in Canada since May, with a trip to the UK for a month in October. We've been in Canada continuously for the last 4 months though. We were expecting a few months of no work while waiting for visas, but with the virus affecting office opening hours, people are speculating there could be significant delays in approval which means even more time out of work.

Matt currently has visa status, but were waiting on a work permit. When that comes through it is going to be difficult to find any kind of job if retailers and most hospitality workplaces are in lockdown.

When did he apply for PR and OWP? What type of visa status?

 

[mattandally]

Matt currently has visitor status. Applied for visitor extension/record 23rd December which was granted a few weeks ago and is valid until August 31st.

Applied for PR and OWP together on 17th December, got acknowledgement email a week or so ago.

 

[canuck78]

Matt currently has visitor status. Applied for visitor extension/record 23rd December which was granted a few weeks ago and is valid until August 31st.

Applied for PR and OWP together on 17th December, got acknowledgement email a week or so ago.

Unfortunately OWP take around 4 months to receive and you applied so close to Christmas that December doesn’t really count. I would expect some additional delays in receiving the OWP. Very few employers are hiring now so an OWP is unlikely to lead to a job at the moment.

 

[mattandally]

Yeah, I don't have my hopes up looking at the state of employment levels right now and the predictions moving forward.

Thanks for your input though. I think we'll seek financial support from the UK, if that's even and option for Brits living overseas, we'll see.

 

[canuck78]

Yeah, I don't have my hopes up looking at the state of employment levels right now and the predictions moving forward.

Thanks for your input though. I think we'll seek financial support from the UK, if that's even and option for Brits living overseas, we'll see.

It is very unlikely unless he is in the UK especially since it seems like he hasn’t been in work recently. He should be very careful and self isolate because he doesn’t have health insurance.

 

[mattandally]

We are isolating ourselves, have done for the last week or so and will continue to until it's clear.

 

[DirtyMelodies]

Hey!

Not expecting an answer immediately, as it's still quite early. But we're currently in Canada, and it looks like it's heading for a lock down. We've heard the visa offices are closed, and to expect delays in applications. If anyone finds out an update on the length of the delays, that would be great.

I also have a question about work permits. My partners visa record (tourist extension) was accepted and we have until 31st August for the work permit to come through. If it's delayed a few months, that's a lot of potential lost income that we weren't predicting. Is the Canadian government offering any kind of financial support to people waiting on work permits or permanent residency applications that are being processed? We're not allowed to leave, but it seems we're also expected to survive of no income. I work in retail and my place of work has closed, I'm on an a zero hour contract so currently unemployed.

I know it's still early, but we're really starting to panic here.

Matt & Ally

Hey guys! Following this thread in hopes of getting info on the projected delays. (We're just waiting for AIP, which would allow my boyfriend to get OHIP and a work permit... The end is SO CLOSE, yet so far. He hasn't been allowed to work since October, times have been rough.)

I heard immigration agents work from home currently, and that only the call center is closed. Apparently PR applications will be processed as usual (albeit probably more slowly).

Regarding your OWP question, I strongly, strongly doubt they'll be offering any kind of compensation. They honestly don't give a shit about lost income or financial struggle. My boyfriend had his OWP application sent back for a missing signature and received it 6 days after his visa expired; he had to quit his job immediately and filed a status restoration request, new OWP request and paid the 300$ immediately... They refused and said it couldn't be done until he got his AIP. I've been supporting both of us since October, and it's been extremely rough financially.

Sorry for the rant. I guess all I'm trying to say is that I strongly doubt IRCC will take pity of people and offer any type of financial assistance. Hopefully family and friends can help you out. Hang in there!

 

[canuck78]

Hey guys! Following this thread in hopes of getting info on the projected delays. (We're just waiting for AIP, which would allow my boyfriend to get OHIP and a work permit... The end is SO CLOSE, yet so far. He hasn't been allowed to work since October, times have been rough.)

I heard immigration agents work from home currently, and that only the call center is closed. Apparently PR applications will be processed as usual (albeit probably more slowly).

Regarding your OWP question, I strongly, strongly doubt they'll be offering any kind of compensation. They honestly don't give a shit about lost income or financial struggle. My boyfriend had his OWP application sent back for a missing signature and received it 6 days after his visa expired; he had to quit his job immediately and filed a status restoration request, new OWP request and paid the 300$ immediately... They refused and said it couldn't be done until he got his AIP. I've been supporting both of us since October, and it's been extremely rough financially.

Sorry for the rant. I guess all I'm trying to say is that I strongly doubt IRCC will take pity of people and offer any type of financial assistance. Hopefully family and friends can help you out. Hang in there!

Don’t think any country would offer people on visitor status financial assistance. It is unfortunate that you didn’t extend his visitor status so he could have applied for OWP and that you missed a signature.

 

[DirtyMelodies]

Don’t think any country would offer people on visitor status financial assistance. It is unfortunate that you didn’t extend his visitor status so he could have applied for OWP and that you missed a signature.

I don't expect them to offer financial assistance either, it would make no sense. We sent the application at the end of July, and his IEC visa expired on October 1st. We had included an OWP application with the PR package, so we didn't think it was necessary to request an extension on top of the OWP app.

Yes, it's our fault for missing that signature. But I find it ridiculous that a single signature cost us 6 months+++ of lost wages.

 

[canuck78]

I don't expect them to offer financial assistance either, it would make no sense. We sent the application at the end of July, and his IEC visa expired on October 1st. We had included an OWP application with the PR package, so we didn't think it was necessary to request an extension on top of the OWP app.

Yes, it's our fault for missing that signature. But I find it ridiculous that a single signature cost us 6 months+++ of lost wages.

It’s unfortunate you had not asked on this forum or other experts. You would have been advised to change the IEC to visitor status before the IEC expired if you had not received AOR for the OWP.

 

[DirtyMelodies]

It’s unfortunate you had not asked on this forum or other experts. You would have been advised to change the IEC to visitor status before the IEC expired if you had not received AOR for the OWP.

I agree. Unfortunate. I guess I'm just frustrated of having to rely on forums and online experts to find out what my options are, because agents at the call center are overloaded, unhelpful and have a 50% chance of giving you an accurate answer.

I'm frustrated that my country still relies on snail mail for such huge, complex application packets, in a time where everything can be done way more efficiently online.

I'm frustrated by GCKEY/eCAS not updating since December, and seeing people who applied almost a month after us get their landing interview while we're still stuck on background check.

I'm pissed for rushing to send a restoration of status app and paying 300$, only to be told ''lol we're not giving you a work permit until you get AIP'' 4 months later, only to get stuck at the last step before that and be delayed even further because of COVID-19.

I'm sorry if I'm coming across as a b**** right now. I'm just exhausted mentally by this whole process. We literally moved from Quebec to Ontario over a year ago, hoping it would facilitate the process by allowing us to bypass CSQ and all the issues with Arrima. Hearing ''That's too bad, you should've done this instead, it would've solved your problems!'' when I feel like we're just fumbling in the dark is just twisting the knife in the wound.