COPR and coronavirus

[prusa]

I hope this will be helpful for CoPRs in the US who wants to enter via land border. My husband and I just landed yesterday from peace bridge. I called and confirmed with the Canadian side a couple of times before we travel. The land border is open for CoPRs 24/7 currently. However, please call and confirm before you travel and things change everyday.

They tended to not accept any "soft landing" cases and you have to quarantine for 14 days. If you are staying with your any relatives, anyone in the house hold applies to that 14 days quarantine rules. It means that no one can go out for anything, even getting groceries. You have to have others deliver groceries to you. Any violation will end up having 10 year in jail and up to 10 million penalty. They are taking this very seriously.

For anyone who is trying to do soft landing and travel back to the US. Obviously, you cannot travel back during those 14 days quarantine time. When you land, they will double triple check on how long you will be staying in Canada. They will only process CoPRs who has a place to stay in Canada and tended to move here for good.

If you are driving your own car and wanted to export and import the car. Please please please make sure that you process all the export document from the US side. It is a long process. We didn't do that and plan to import our car next time as goods to follow. The officer questioned us on why the export process was not done and the car we are driving should be on our goods to come list since we are driving it.

If you have anything to ship over or to drive over at a later time, make sure you make a list for the goods to follow.

Congratulations and thank you for a detailed post informing everyone!!!!!
After the 14 days quarantine do you intend to get back into USA? If so, how do you plan to come back - as far as I understand entry to US is limited to Citizens and PR/ essential travel only.

 

[umizhou1990]

Congratulations and thank you for a detailed post informing everyone!!!!!
After the 14 days quarantine do you intend to get back into USA? If so, how do you plan to come back - as far as I understand entry to US is limited to Citizens and PR/ essential travel only.

We are still thinking about if we want to risk to travel back to the US or not. When we did our research, US essential travel includes working visa, so I guess we can travel. But anything could change now. I don't want to piss off the Canadian side too. Worst case, we will wait until this virus thing is over.

 

[ryeCatcher]

We are still thinking about if we want to risk to travel back to the US or not. When we did our research, US essential travel includes working visa, so I guess we can travel. But anything could change now. I don't want to piss off the Canadian side too. Worst case, we will wait until this virus thing is over.

After 14 days, would they still stop you from leaving Canada?
I think you are correct that work visas can indeed travel back to USA, but it seems unclear if we can do so over land border currently.

 

[umizhou1990]

After 14 days, would they still stop you from leaving Canada?
I think you are correct that work visas can indeed travel back to USA, but it seems unclear if we can do so over land border currently.

Honestly, I don't know. If we can't travel back, we are fine with staying too. worst case is to loose the job.

 

[j9lad]

Hi , did you travel? my COPR expires on the same day as well and i cancelled my trip which i scheduled on march 26th from US.

No, I have not. I am still contemplating whether I should risk and travel or if I'd rather write an explanation through a WebForm. I don't mind taking the risk of traveling, but I am concerned about the scenario if we're denied a re-entry to the US (in the worst case) because that would leave us in a limbo. Have you rescheduled your flight and are you planning to travel in the near future?

@j9lad

Sadly I do not, I am also scanning all forums to see if someone living in the US reports back their response, but so far seems generic responses only .
I have seen (I forget here or on facebook groups) folks in India have gotten specific response confirming that COPRs will be extended.

I will say this though, unless the virus situation changes drastically in the next 2-3 months, I do not see the self isolation restrictions relaxed for international travel. As for being denied an extension, its possible, but I suspect unlikely given the unprecedented nature of Covid19.

Same with me - I've come across posts where folks in India have mentioned getting an extension. However, India has a lockdown, and that should be a valid reason, IMO. Since travel between the US and Canada is not prohibited, I'm concerned if IRCC would regard it differently.

 

[j9lad]

Are you sure that you have gone through this thread? On the first page you find the post you're looking for. @bhavind , it'd be great if you could let us know what happened next.

Thanks for referencing the first page. If I understand correctly, @bhavind came across this situation before the travel restrictions were imposed. Since the time of the post, a lot of things have changed. @bhavind , would be really helpful if you could share your experience.

 

[Rahil Lakhani]

Hello everyone!

Does anyone knw the latest processing time of PR card?? Anyone who has recently got or landed???? The website shows 13 working days but i beleive this is not updated post COVID situation.

Secondly, any negative impact in this CORONA situation if I am informing the immigration officer that I am here for soft landing??

I am planning to do a soft landing in June start, staying with my relatives for 2 weeks and then return back..

Awaiting your viewpoints!!

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Fazzio]

I would be very careful about that. Not wanting to fly and being unable to fly are two different things.

If you get written confirmation saying you will be not penalized or that they accept your reason not to fly, that’s fine. But it doesn’t mean someone else might get that allowance as well, you need to send a webform to verify IRCC directly accepts your reason not to fly specifically in your case.

I would not go by just what the consulate has said.

I’m telling you this purely so everyone takes their precautions. Only delay landing when you are sure IRCC accept giving you an extension specifically.

I’m afraid people who just assume they will get an extension without checking with IRCC may get a shock.

The first webform I sent to IRCC was replied by the consulate where my visa was being processed...Since then, I’ve been sending e-mails asking specifically if I could ask for extension even now that I am allowed, due to the pandemic, and they keep saying “you won’t be penalized if you are unable to travel”. I believe they are prepared to not give clear answers |o|, they do not state what they consider as a reason to not travel, unfortunately, but I have all the e-mails and replies to prove what I ask SPECIFICALLY...
And yes, I sent a webform directly to IRCC last Friday, which I am not expecting to be replied soon. I also consulted a professional immigration consulting company and they also said that IRCC would extend the visa as soon as the situation get settled.

We are facing an unprecedented situation...even those who are allowed to move should think about...now the flight tickets are 3 times the usual price and the travel is taking about 40 hours, with many connections...for sure it is not safe to expose yourself.

 

[j9lad]

Just re-reading the wording from the official instructions, it gives me the impression that the general tendency is to allow CoPR holders an opportunity to travel when the situation improves:

Permanent residence applicants who are in possession of a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) and permanent resident visa (PRV) and inform us, by submitting a web form to IRCC, that they are unable to travel within the validity of their documentation should be processed as follows:

• Valid COPR and PRV: In an effort to reduce the number of cancelled COPRs and PRVs, a note should be placed in the file explaining that the applicant is unable to travel, and the file should be brought forward to the expiration date of the COPR and PRV. If the applicant informs IRCC that they can travel prior to the COPR and PRV expiration, they are encouraged to use their existing COPR and PRV to land.
• Expired COPR and PRV: If the applicant informs IRCC via the web form that they were unable to travel after the expiration of their COPR and PRV, or if they were unable to travel prior to expiration, officers are to re-open the application, and it should be brought forward for review in 90 days.
  
  Reference: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/coronavirus/permanent-residence.html#Approved_permanent_residence
  
  Am I interpreting it in a different way? Although it is vague, it does give an indication that they are willing to process the application later.

 

[Lmac4]

@j9lad

Sadly I do not, I am also scanning all forums to see if someone living in the US reports back their response, but so far seems generic responses only .
I have seen (I forget here or on facebook groups) folks in India have gotten specific response confirming that COPRs will be extended.

I will say this though, unless the virus situation changes drastically in the next 2-3 months, I do not see the self isolation restrictions relaxed for international travel. As for being denied an extension, its possible, but I suspect unlikely given the unprecedented nature of Covid19.

I am a Canadian living in America with my husband who is an american citizen who received COPR.... I wrote to the CIC today through email (who granted our COPR) asking for an extension ..... And just received this back:


Thank you for contacting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

We verified the information you provided and have forwarded it to the responsible office.

They will contact you if further information is required.

We hope the information provided is helpful in assisting you with your enquiry.

We would also like to suggest the following online services that might be helpful to you with any immigration, refugee and/or citizenship future requests:

• Download application forms and guides
• Change of address
• Check your application status
• Help Centre - To find answers, you may consult the different sections or type keywords related to your question.

Sincerely,

Valentina,

A generic message, stating they'd pass it along to the "responsible office" whatever that means...

 

[dr.josemrod]

Adding to this situation, I understand we all have to wait, our trip was set for June, so AirBnB is not cancelling anything yet, nor is AirTransat.

 

[Lmac4]

Congratulations and thank you for a detailed post informing everyone!!!!!
After the 14 days quarantine do you intend to get back into USA? If so, how do you plan to come back - as far as I understand entry to US is limited to Citizens and PR/ essential travel only.

I agree. I was planning on coming back to the USA as well afterwards, and it's not looking hopeful...

 

[Bina5]

No, I have not. I am still contemplating whether I should risk and travel or if I'd rather write an explanation through a WebForm. I don't mind taking the risk of traveling, but I am concerned about the scenario if we're denied a re-entry to the US (in the worst case) because that would leave us in a limbo. Have you rescheduled your flight and are you planning to travel in the near future?


Same with me - I've come across posts where folks in India have mentioned getting an extension. However, India has a lockdown, and that should be a valid reason, IMO. Since travel between the US and Canada is not prohibited, I'm concerned if IRCC would regard it differently.

Actually i am not planning to travel now, i fall under one of those tri-states ny,nj,ct where the cases are high. So i am planning not travel anytime soon.

 

[Lmac4]

Hello everyone!

Does anyone knw the latest processing time of PR card?? Anyone who has recently got or landed???? The website shows 13 working days but i beleive this is not updated post COVID situation.

Secondly, any negative impact in this CORONA situation if I am informing the immigration officer that I am here for soft landing??

I am planning to do a soft landing in June start, staying with my relatives for 2 weeks and then return back..

Awaiting your viewpoints!!

Thanks in advance!!

I was also hoping for the answer to your second question.... that was our plan as we have not wrapped up our affairs, and I'm still on a work visa in America.... sadly I feel like it comes down to who you get at the port of entry and what kind of day they may be having...

 

[Lmac4]

Actually i am not planning to travel now, i fall under one of those tri-states ny,nj,ct where the cases are high. So i am planning not travel anytime soon.

I am from CT, and I informed IRCC Webform and CIC office that we are fall under the high case/ high travel advisory, and asked for an extension...still waiting a reply...

When does your COPR expire?