Hello,
We are looking into the process to apply for travel exemption for extended family member (exclusive dating relationship, Canada / Kenya) through IMM 0006. At the same time, we are also working through the Visitor Visa (TRV) application process. We are aware that you would not submit IMM 0006 without having your visa application submitted, but would now also submit these two in tandem, and have a few questions regarding both Written Authorization process and IMM 0006, and hoping for some advice:
1. Regarding Written Authorization, according to this section of the website, it states only:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/immediate-family.html#authorization
"If you need a visitor visa but haven’t applied for one yet
Follow the instructions for How to apply for a visitor visa. We’ll assess your reasons for travel and make a decision on your visitor visa and your written authorization at the same time. Remember to submit evidence to show you’re eligible to travel at this time."
However, it is not clear to us under this scenario how to actually request the written authorization. All other scenarios are quite clear on the request process except this one, i.e.:
So in our scenario, we're not sure if it is supposed to be done through email, or through the Web Form, or some other way, such as through the IRCC account when submitting your visitor visa application (though we could find no such place to do this when looking through the IRCC account). Furthermore, if following the link within "If you need a visitor visa but haven’t applied for one yet" for "How to apply for a visitor visa" it mentions:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/visa.html#new
"Step 5: Wait for a decision on your application
You’ll get one of the following:
- an email confirming if your application is approved or refused
- a letter asking for more information, so we can make a decision
This will be sent to your IRCC Secure Account. If your application is approved, we tell you the next steps in the process."
Unless this is specifically referring to the decision of your visa application (possibly), this is different from the other scenarios, which mention (in the case of emailing) "We’ll contact you within 14 business days of getting your complete request", as it's saying it will be sent to your IRCC Secure Account. Steps 2 and 3 further up are talking about IMM 0006, and because the two processes are now intertwined, it is confusing.
Though unsure, we suspect the answer is that you would submit the visa application as normal through IRCC Secure Account, then either:
2. On the website page for IMM 0006, How to apply for a visitor visa:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/visa.html#new
Step 2 is also confusing, and would like to clarify since it seems to be quite specific in what it wants:
Step 2: Fill out the form
When answering the question on the application form about the purpose of travel, enter the following information exactly as written to make sure your application is prioritized:
- For question 1 a) purpose of travel, choose “other” from the drop-down menu.
- For question 1 b) description field, write “COVID-19” exactly like this (you must use capital letters).
On IMM 0006, under Section 2 - Personal Information (Foreign National / Extended Family Member), at the bottom there is a field for "Purpose of travel". Is this where you're supposed to put "COVID-19"? Because there is no drop-down for "Other" here.
If it is instead referring to IMM 5257 Application For Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa), under the section Details Of Visit To Canada, there is Question 1 "a) Purpose of my visit" (not quite "purpose of travel", but close), where you can select "Other", as well as "b) Other" for a description field where "COVID-19" could go.
Or does "COVID-19" go on both forms?
3. This one is minor, but also on IMM 0006, under Section 2 - Personal Information (Foreign National / Extended Family Member), at the bottom there is another field "Telephone number". But since this is in the "Address While In Canada" section, does it want the current number of the Foreign National, or the number related to the Address While In Canada?
To us the intent of this reads as "where will you be and how can we contact you while in Canada", but since many people would change their SIM when visiting another country, their number would change, so we're thinking it's actually asking for the number related to the Address While in Canada. Although that could still be the Foreign National's number depending, I guess the question is more about the intent of the field, as we're inclined to just put the same number as the Canadian Citizen's number (mine), as the addresses are the same in our scenario.
Appreciate any thoughts, or feedback from those who have already gone through this.
Thanks!
We are looking into the process to apply for travel exemption for extended family member (exclusive dating relationship, Canada / Kenya) through IMM 0006. At the same time, we are also working through the Visitor Visa (TRV) application process. We are aware that you would not submit IMM 0006 without having your visa application submitted, but would now also submit these two in tandem, and have a few questions regarding both Written Authorization process and IMM 0006, and hoping for some advice:
1. Regarding Written Authorization, according to this section of the website, it states only:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/immediate-family.html#authorization
"If you need a visitor visa but haven’t applied for one yet
Follow the instructions for How to apply for a visitor visa. We’ll assess your reasons for travel and make a decision on your visitor visa and your written authorization at the same time. Remember to submit evidence to show you’re eligible to travel at this time."
However, it is not clear to us under this scenario how to actually request the written authorization. All other scenarios are quite clear on the request process except this one, i.e.:
- If instead you already have a valid visitor visa or have an application in progress, you would follow the instructions for what to do if you've already applied for a visitor visa:
And send your request to this email address: IRCC.COVID-TravelExemptions-Exemptionsdevoyage-COVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
Including all the requested information, after which they'll contact you within 14 business days.
- If instead you have an eTA or need one to travel, you would contact IRCC through their Web Form:
And follow the steps outlined on their How to apply for a new eTA page:
- If you don't need a visitor visa or eTA (for example, US citizen), you would also send an email to IRCC.COVID-TravelExemptions-Exemptionsdevoyage-COVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca including all the requested information, after which they'll contact you within 14 business days.
So in our scenario, we're not sure if it is supposed to be done through email, or through the Web Form, or some other way, such as through the IRCC account when submitting your visitor visa application (though we could find no such place to do this when looking through the IRCC account). Furthermore, if following the link within "If you need a visitor visa but haven’t applied for one yet" for "How to apply for a visitor visa" it mentions:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/visa.html#new
"Step 5: Wait for a decision on your application
You’ll get one of the following:
- an email confirming if your application is approved or refused
- a letter asking for more information, so we can make a decision
This will be sent to your IRCC Secure Account. If your application is approved, we tell you the next steps in the process."
Unless this is specifically referring to the decision of your visa application (possibly), this is different from the other scenarios, which mention (in the case of emailing) "We’ll contact you within 14 business days of getting your complete request", as it's saying it will be sent to your IRCC Secure Account. Steps 2 and 3 further up are talking about IMM 0006, and because the two processes are now intertwined, it is confusing.
Though unsure, we suspect the answer is that you would submit the visa application as normal through IRCC Secure Account, then either:
- Use the email method and reference your application etc., as you would then technically fall under the "If you have a valid visitor visa or an application in progress" scenario.
- Use the Web Form method but instead of selecting the eTA option, select "Temporary Residence (applied online) - Visa"
2. On the website page for IMM 0006, How to apply for a visitor visa:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/visa.html#new
Step 2 is also confusing, and would like to clarify since it seems to be quite specific in what it wants:
Step 2: Fill out the form
When answering the question on the application form about the purpose of travel, enter the following information exactly as written to make sure your application is prioritized:
- For question 1 a) purpose of travel, choose “other” from the drop-down menu.
- For question 1 b) description field, write “COVID-19” exactly like this (you must use capital letters).
On IMM 0006, under Section 2 - Personal Information (Foreign National / Extended Family Member), at the bottom there is a field for "Purpose of travel". Is this where you're supposed to put "COVID-19"? Because there is no drop-down for "Other" here.
If it is instead referring to IMM 5257 Application For Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa), under the section Details Of Visit To Canada, there is Question 1 "a) Purpose of my visit" (not quite "purpose of travel", but close), where you can select "Other", as well as "b) Other" for a description field where "COVID-19" could go.
Or does "COVID-19" go on both forms?
3. This one is minor, but also on IMM 0006, under Section 2 - Personal Information (Foreign National / Extended Family Member), at the bottom there is another field "Telephone number". But since this is in the "Address While In Canada" section, does it want the current number of the Foreign National, or the number related to the Address While In Canada?
To us the intent of this reads as "where will you be and how can we contact you while in Canada", but since many people would change their SIM when visiting another country, their number would change, so we're thinking it's actually asking for the number related to the Address While in Canada. Although that could still be the Foreign National's number depending, I guess the question is more about the intent of the field, as we're inclined to just put the same number as the Canadian Citizen's number (mine), as the addresses are the same in our scenario.
Appreciate any thoughts, or feedback from those who have already gone through this.
Thanks!
