COPR and coronavirus

[niko80]

The first cookie cutter acknowledgements took a week in my case (I think for most).

I get a feeling that specific responses are received:
a) once the CoPR has expired
b) from local VO offices

Like some have opined before - IF the border is open and exemptions are in place both in host country and in Canada, it signifies ability to travel. In which case we are appealing to IRCC that we want to avoid travel due to risk factors. What will the IRCC decision be is only a guess work. One assumes, that it will favour applicants since health risk of contracting is understandable.

Going by the web form, and also the Operations / Instructions manual (there was a link in somewhere) IRCC officers are being asked to put a note on file upon receipt of web form and pend for 90 days. Next once the applicant informs that he/she is now ready to travel (via another web form for the purpose) the Visa Office will dispatch further instructions on what steps to be taken.

In one example, the medical was extended by 6 months (not requested for additional medical tests) and the fresh CoPR is being granted with extended dates.

Needless to say there would be several factors to whether and which applicants are asked to take re-tests for medicals, and which other applicants are provided straight forward extensions without medical re-tests. Age, previous medical report, country of origin / residence etc can all be factors behind that decision.

I have not come across a single rejection of CoPR extension after the new COVID 19 web forms were announced. Someone's extension ask was rejected early on but at that time, these additional measures were not yet in place by IRCC.

What you are saying sounds logical. Personally I prefer not to travel from US because of safety issues but there is no clear answer if it is fine.

 

[Islander216]

...It was literally snowing half an hour ago in Windsor

hahah its snowing in Ottawa.

Toronto is nice right now.

 

[Molino de Viente]

So....my third flight has just been cancelled. I booked LOT going through Warsaw on 18th of April, but Poland has just extended flights restrictions till 26th of April. My visa expires on 21st of April. The shitty thing is that borders are open on both sides for me: as a visa holder I am exempt from Canada restriction and my country travel ban, but...there are simply no flights! My 01/04/2020 flight with Turkish airlines, 08/04/2020 Lufthansa and 18/04/2020 LOT were all cancelled. I am going to use this bunch of tickets (I haven't recieved refund on any of them) and raise a web-form again after my COPR expires.

 

[prusa]

Hey,

Yeah, it's all very unclear. We are going to try, because we have to. And we will be honest with the CBSA agents stating we've tried to contact immigration to prevent us coming here but haven't heard anything.

I did call the American border...I am actually a Canadian citizen (My husband is the one who has the COPR), so I am on the TN Nafta visa, and married to an American. So he said both those things would allow me back in, but its tough to say what they're allowing and not, depends on the day, depends on the agent (which is super frustrating).

Are you planning on heading to a land border at all anytime soon?? I'll make sure to let everyone know how my experience goes so you at least have a little idea!

Leah

Which Land Border are you heading for? Please keep us posted!!! Good luck and stay safe

 

[Canaspirant xyz]

So....my third flight has just been cancelled. I booked LOT going through Warsaw on 18th of April, but Poland has just extended flights restrictions till 26th of April. My visa expires on 21st of April. The shitty thing is that borders are open on both sides for me: as a visa holder I am exempt from Canada restriction and my country travel ban, but...there are simply no flights! My 01/04/2020 flight with Turkish airlines, 08/04/2020 Lufthansa and 18/04/2020 LOT were all cancelled. I am going to use this bunch of tickets (I haven't recieved refund on any of them) and raise a web-form again after my COPR expires.

You should raise web form today itself.No need to spend more on flights.You have sufficient evidence to prove ur inability to travel Attach the mails or msgs of airlines in ur web form .When you have got the final msg that flight is cancelled then why are you waiting to fill the web form ?

 

[Molino de Viente]

You should raise web form today itself.No need to spend more on flights.You have sufficient evidence to prove ur inability to travel Attach the mails or msgs of airlines in ur web form .When you have got the final msg that flight is cancelled then why are you waiting to fill the web form ?

I recieved the cancelation message today, but I have already raised two web-forms(2 weeks ago) and recieved one generic answer and one specific answer saying "write to this (Warsaw) address again as soon as the situation normalizes". So I am not sure if I must raise it again before my visa expires? Do you think it is a good idea to raise the form again?

 

[gabi1984]

All - I am currently in Canada and received my COPR on March 13. I am waiting for my PR card to arrive and not sure when I am going to get it. I need to travel to the US on an emergency by flight.

can someone tell me if I am allowed to leave canada without PR card, and if yes will I be allowed to return back to Canada? I am on a valid work permit at this time.

I reached out to CIC through webform but no response yet. On CIC portal, it looks like I can only come back if i drive through the border on a private vehicle.

 

[going2CA]

Probably end of June or July depending on when it is safe to travel .... What about you ??

Haven’t decided yet Cos I don’t know which direction I have to swing. I also have to serve a 3 month notice period so that’s troubling me too!

 

[Molino de Viente]

Is Germany accepting international transit passengers? Has anyone able to fly though Frankfurt recently? On IATA site it is said that Germany is closed with several exceptions including those who transit through their airport BUT on they way to their home countries.

 

[Canaspirant xyz]

I recieved the cancelation message today, but I have already raised two web-forms(2 weeks ago) and recieved one generic answer and one specific answer saying "write to this (Warsaw) address again as soon as the situation normalizes". So I am not sure if I must raise it again before my visa expires? Do you think it is a good idea to raise the form again?

When you raised the web form earlier that time your flight was not cancelled.You might just have requested on the grounds of risks involved if you travel.Now you are actually unable to travel.I feel it's always better to raise 1 extra web form in such cases like you rather than relying in ircc's understanding.As of now ,how many cases would they extend based on UNDERSTANDING of severity and how many they will extend for sure due to genuine inability to travel is yet not clear.
So if they take decision in the basis if your previous web form it might go against you as you were not under any travel restrictions that time.Now you have valid proof so I think you should inform them that you tried to land but flight us cancelled.Rest is up to you.All the best.

 

[Gayathri Neelakandan]

CAN ANYBODY PLEASE SUGGEST ME ON THIS


We have came across some different scenario today.Kindly provide your suggestions on this.
Our COPR expiry date is 30th April 2020 and due to Covid 19 we are unable to travel before the COPR expiry and we have raised the webform on March 17th itself and till today we didn't get any sort of mail(generic or case specific).
Our Visa processing centre was CPC-ottawa.SO we have sent the COPR extension request mail to CPC ottawa office to the mail id <CPC-CTD-Ottawa@cic.gc.ca> yesterday.
Today we have got the reply from CIC that
Thank you for contacting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Please note that, under the Privacy Act, this office is not authorized to make any changes to this file or communicate any details concerning this file to this email address:[Our Registered mail id]
Further in their email they have mentioned
If a client has chosen you to become his/her representative with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, he/she should first complete Use of Representative Form (IMM5476) and submit it via the web form: https://secure.cic.gc.ca/enquiries-renseignements/canada-case-cas-eng.aspx
If you are the applicant, please follow the instructions below:
· To add an email address or change the email address currently on file, please forward to us an email from the email address that was originally provided to us on file.

• If you are unable to access the email address that you initially provided, or, you never had provided one, please complete and sign by hand the form below and submit the scanned copy to our office by replying to this email.

Authorization to change/add email address
Name:
Date of Birth:
Country of Birth:
Passport/Travel Document # :
UCI:
I understand that, under the Privacy Act, the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (IRCC) is not authorized to make any changes to a file or communicate any details concerning my file to persons or representatives without my authorized and expressed consent.
I authorize the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (IRCC) Canada to add to my file this email address: ________________________________________________________
______________________________ _____________________
Signature of the principal applicant Date


But we are puzzled why they are mentioning that our email id is not correct.Even we got the Passport request mail in the same mail ID. and we have mailed them from the same mail id which we have registered during the PR application.
Kindly provide your insight on this.
Thanks in advance.

 

[minecraftwonderness]

Little update from today just to summarise:

SIN number

You are now able to apply for a SIN number online, as far as I'm aware this is an entirely new service. You are no longer able to apply for your SIN number in person. This can be done here:

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/sin-applicant-guide.html

Please note this requires a proof of address when you upload documents. I would advise getting this in whatever format first.

Bank Account

I visited a HSBC branch today to set up a newcomer account. I already have a HSBC account in the uk so this was especially useful as I can maintain my Canadian and UK account all from one portal. The process was relatively quick and easy and the staff were very friendly and helpful. Banks are considered an essential service so you should still be able to visit a branch to do so. I did not require an appointment and was advised to just turn up at the branch within the opening hours.

The bank asked for my SIN which I explained I did not have yet, they still managed to open my account without it and I will update them once received.

Driving License

Drive test centres in Canada have now shut meaning there is only one location in Ontario to exchange a foreign license, this is at the college Park service Ontario. It is important to note if you are moving to canada now and either cannot drive yet or come from a country without a reciprocal agreement with Canadian driving authorities it will not be possible to learn to drive or sit any driving examinations for the time being.

OHIP

As it is Easter weekend I will not manage to go to a service Ontario until next week to apply for OHIP. Currently the three month waiting period has been removed so I should be able to obtain this as soon as the paperwork is processed. I will update once I have managed to do this.

Can my parents apply for SIN if they hold COPR but haven't landed yet. They are stuck in India due to the lockdown and their COPR expires on the first week of July.

 

[Bs65]

Can my parents apply for SIN if they hold COPR but haven't landed yet. They are stuck in India due to the lockdown and their COPR expires on the first week of July.

No given they are not PRs until they land. What benefit are you seeing anyway even if they could

 

[minecraftwonderness]

No given they are not PRs until they land. What benefit are you seeing anyway even if they could

My father has an export business in India and he thought it would be helpful to export essentials during the crisis.

 

[Bs65]

My father has an export business in India and he thought it would be helpful to export essentials during the crisis.

A noble intention but does not need a SIN to export goods to Canada that would be a whole different process for a Canada non resident maybe export/import and customs licences, but you would need professional advice on that.