Re flagpoling..
Copied directly from FAQs from
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html
it says traveling to POE for immigration services is NOT considered essential travel and you will not receive service. (see last sentence in bold)
Based on this, IF you're in Canada, waiting for them to get back for
phone interview seems like safest option currently OR you may likely get turned back around. I keep checking as a friend is also waiting to be rescheduled re inland interview. Hopefully some news soon!
I have been approved for permanent residence but haven’t landed; can I still come?
Temporary foreign workers, some international students and approved permanent residents who haven’t yet landed are now able to enter Canada.
The travel restriction exemptions that were announced are now in place. If you’re exempt, you can now travel to Canada.
If you’re travelling by air, you need to pass a health check before you’re allowed to board your flight. Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada by air.
When you arrive in Canada we’ll assess your health before you leave the port of entry.
You must isolate for 14 days even if you have no symptoms. This is mandatory.
Only people who provide essential services and truck drivers who regularly cross the border to maintain the flow of goods are exempt from the isolation requirements.
As announced on March 20, 2020, foreign nationals who were approved for permanent residence before the travel restrictions were announced on March 18, 2020, but had not landed yet, will be able to come to Canada.
What about our domestic IRCC operations?
Domestic IRCC operations are reduced to critical services. We have cancelled all citizenship ceremonies, tests and retests, as well as all in-person permanent resident landing appointments and refugee claimant appointments. We are looking into alternative means to provide permanent resident landing services, including possibly by telephone. Clients will be contacted directly to reschedule their appointment.
We are also suspending non-essential settlement services and biometrics collection services at 58 Service Canada locations.
What should foreign nationals who are in Canada with valid temporary status as a visitor, worker or student do if their status is about to expire?
Temporary residents who are currently in Canada are able to apply to extend their status online if they need to extend their status. A temporary resident who has applied to extend their status is allowed to remain in Canada until a decision is made on their new application, even if their initial status expires while they are waiting for that decision. This is called implied status.
They should not travel to a port of entry (POE) to apply directly to a border services officer. Travelling to a POE from inside Canada for the purpose of getting immigration services is not considered essential travel, and they will not receive these services
What are the land travel restrictions?
As of midnight on March 20, 2020, Canada and the US have agreed to temporarily restrict all non-essential travel across the Canada–US border.
This collaborative and reciprocal measure between Canada and the US will restrict non-essential travel across the border, including for tourism and recreation. Canadian and American citizens and permanent residents who are currently visiting each other’s country can still return home.