COPR and coronavirus

[whyCorona]

Hi All,

Any info on VFS/VAC offices reopening in India for passport submission or biometrics? I see even VFS US is open....

Posted: 1 day ago

All Canadian Visa Application Centres across India remain closed at this time. #CanadainIndia is working hard to address this over the next several weeks. While the VACs are closed, please do not mail your passports or applications to the High Commission of Canada; they will be returned to you without any action taken. All applications and passports are to be submitted through the VACs once they re-open. Please continue to follow us on social media to learn more about when the VACs will re-open. https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/can/

Canadian Immigration and Citizenship
VFS Global

 

[someonetookmyname]

You can definitely travel as your COPR is issued before Mar 18.
There is nothing like "soft landing". It is a term given by people like us. At present IRCC wants only those people who are looking to come and settle permanently to restrict people from travelling frequently.
But no one can stop from coming back after 15-20 days. Just make sure to make arrangements for your PR card otherwise you have to apply for PRTD for entering into Canada again.
Also, flight from Canada to India.

many thanks for your reply

 

[someonetookmyname]

I arrived in Canada on 2nd august as temporarily and will be back on 30 Aug, nothing has been asked so i wil recommend who ever planning to travel on temp. basis can do that confidently as seems extension of expired visa will be much more of headache, any questions please msg me and happy to answer

many thanks for your reply! yeah its seems reasonable to fly. i m based here in Oman. let me know if we can connect through whatsapp? so that i seek your guidance

 

[crackMBA]

many thanks for your reply! yeah its seems reasonable to fly. i m based here in Oman. let me know if we can connect through whatsapp? so that i seek your guidance

Just out of curiosity, how is the situation in Oman? Covid Cases? International Flights? Can you book normal international flights or only rescue ones?

Thanks

 

[crackMBA]

This latest tweet from High Commission of Canada in India says expired CoPR holders approved before March 18, 2020 once commercial flights become available. Just a bit more clearer language. Hope they'll be convinced a couple of weeks later. I am wondering why don't they allow us to take repatriation flights under Vande Bharat Mission.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1290942674019561472

This is something good. More clear.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[someonetookmyname]

Just out of curiosity, how is the situation in Oman? Covid Cases? International Flights? Can you book normal international flights or only rescue ones?

Thanks

well here govt imposed locked down again till 8th of August and s so far only special flights are available not the normal ones.

 

[crackMBA]

well here govt imposed locked down again till 8th of August and s so far only special flights are available not the normal ones.

okay. kind similar to India. Although, we are not under lock down but we still do not have commercial flights.

 

[whyCorona]

This latest tweet from High Commission of Canada in India says expired CoPR holders approved before March 18, 2020 once commercial flights become available. Just a bit more clearer language. Hope they'll be convinced a couple of weeks later. I am wondering why don't they allow us to take repatriation flights under Vande Bharat Mission.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1290942674019561472

Their response is a copy paste from their FAQs. We cant travel with our expired CoPR or PRV.

 

[asohal1327]

This is something good. More clear.
Thanks for sharing.

I think we missed the 2nd part of their reply which provides info regarding in case of expired COPR i.e. they will provide next steps once full services resumes.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1290942725462745088

 

[whyCorona]

well here govt imposed locked down again till 8th of August and s so far only special flights are available not the normal ones.

If you trust MHA's latest Unlock guidelines then they have mentioned that commercial flights will be resumed in calibrated manner.

 

[crackMBA]

I think we missed the 2nd part of their reply which provides info regarding in case of expired COPR i.e. they will provide next steps once full services resumes.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1290942725462745088

Thank you

 

[SithLord]

If you trust MHA's latest Unlock guidelines then they have mentioned that commercial flights will be resumed in calibrated manner.

MHA will not start commercial flights anytime soon. It is going to be only Vande Bharath for now.

 

[2Rxist]

Have you tried contacting the embassy/consulate in Kenya? High commission of Canada in South Africa informed me over the phone that Lufthansa and Qatar are functioning for PR and CoPR holders as repatriation flights. They suggested I contact them when I have valid documents (my CoPR is currently expired). They said they will provide a letter permitting travel to airport (we have travel limits in SA) and also to board the plane. I haven't done this yet so I'm not 100% sure it will work out, but am counting on this info for when my CoPR is extended.

I was able to communicate with the embassy office in Kenya via email. I explained our situation, and I actually found a response when I woke up this morning!
In the email, they stated that the office does not produce letters officially, but continued to say that travel should have been allowed and provided contact information for the airline to use. Plan on rebooking the Lufthansa flight, and if they are denied again, we are going to book with another airline.

Caution with Lufthansa Airlines.

 

[2Rxist]

I was able to communicate with the embassy office in Kenya via email. I explained our situation, and I actually found a response when I woke up this morning!
In the email, they stated that the office does not produce letters officially, but continued to say that travel should have been allowed and provided contact information for the airline to use. Plan on rebooking the Lufthansa flight, and if they are denied again, we are going to book with another airline.

Caution with Lufthansa Airlines.

I hope it works out for you!

 

[whyCorona]

MHA will not start commercial flights anytime soon. It is going to be only Vande Bharath for now.

No visibility of VB flights after Aug as of now. All VB flights are booked till end of August. I am just stating what MHA has written in their guidelines.

Did you book any flight?