COPR and coronavirus

[whyCorona]

Absolutely furious, devastated and could just sit and cry!

We received our COPR last week and after calling CBSA I was told because i'm an essential worker (Registered Nurse) and I have a job offer and licensure that i'd be able to travel. So I gave my employer a start date, we've rented a furnished property and put down a deposit on a car ready to finalize after we quarantine.

I just rang CBSA again to check whether I needed any specific paperwork to show an exemption to be told that no I don't have an exemption and i'm unable to travel on my COPR, but I could apply for a work permit and travel on that as I would have an exemption with a work permit as an essential worker.

Seriously WTF!!!

I've never known such a stupid situation. We put our house up for sale yesterday and now we're just going to have to cancel everything, we'll have lost nearly $3000 and i'll likely now lose my job because my employer is sick of waiting for me.

Yeah, welcome to Canada!!

Do you have any words of advice @legalfalcon??

You called them twice and you got different answers. If you call again then i believe you will get another answer. Please avoid overthinking and go through following exemption list. If you think that you are exempted because of your profession then travel and meet them at the gate.


https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html#enter

 

[Canaspirant xyz]

Have you seen any cases with Vo Sydney getting any kind of movement? remedicals/4pointers/AL? anything?

I am too from Sydney vo..pls update if u get any response

 

[Canaspirant xyz]

Absolutely furious, devastated and could just sit and cry!

We received our COPR last week and after calling CBSA I was told because i'm an essential worker (Registered Nurse) and I have a job offer and licensure that i'd be able to travel. So I gave my employer a start date, we've rented a furnished property and put down a deposit on a car ready to finalize after we quarantine.

I just rang CBSA again to check whether I needed any specific paperwork to show an exemption to be told that no I don't have an exemption and i'm unable to travel on my COPR, but I could apply for a work permit and travel on that as I would have an exemption with a work permit as an essential worker.

Seriously WTF!!!

I've never known such a stupid situation. We put our house up for sale yesterday and now we're just going to have to cancel everything, we'll have lost nearly $3000 and i'll likely now lose my job because my employer is sick of waiting for me.

Yeah, welcome to Canada!!

Do you have any words of advice @legalfalcon??
[/QUOT
I think you should go and try but dont sell your house right now.

 

[Canaspirant xyz]

We have had an update to our situation (original COPR issued Nov 2019, exp May 2020, advised ready to travel June 2020). We were told that our Visas were ready week before last and that we needed to send in new ID pictures. We've received new COPRs in the post today. This was unexpected as we were expecting an Authorisation to Travel letter so we could move ASAP.
Somehow, it seems an error was made and we were reissued new COPRs, meaning that the fact that they were issued post 18 March 2020 (unlike our originals) we do not fall under the current travel exemptions anymore... Am desperately trying to get a response from our issuing VO to get this resolved but no response yet.

Has this happened to anyone else? (Sorry if there has been a relevant post, there have been hundreds of updates since I last posted).

Where do you belong to...and which is your Vo?

 

[Canaspirant xyz]

Yes, they didnt applied medical 6 months ext for me :-(, Belong to M1 , but as usual IRCC usually surprises with all our "educated predictions" gone wrong . Booked Re-med for next week , hopefully they wont delay once I send them re-med results. My file is from NDVO

I think IRCC needs to call a meeting for all its officers and agents and decide some proper guidelines on how coprs have to be extended....all are playing it seems...some sending Al ..some med req..some new copr...some are sleeping lol

 

[canadaxyls]

Good evening everyone.
I'm new here, I have some questions. I would be grateful if you could help me. I have applied for PR in september 2019. I'm still waiting for the 'ready for visa'. My question if I get my passeport with the visa stamped, how can I enter canada while I'm not in the list of the exempted cases?
Thank you.

 

[13nitinsharma]

Have you seen any cases with Vo Sydney getting any kind of movement? remedicals/4pointers/AL? anything?

Not yet, Nothing for Sydney.

 

[Marzipan]

Where do you belong to...and which is your Vo?

We're in the UK, first our VO was Sydney NS which then got transferred to London VO for COPR issuing.

Just so fatigued with this endless run around trying to get over to Canada. It's becoming soul destroying.

 

[kaadman]

what kind of different response? can you mention the part of wording here?

We have verified the information you provided and can confirm that the agents who responded to you on August 6, 2020 and September 28, 2020, took the appropriate actions to follow up on your request.

Due to the ongoing situation related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), some IRCC offices are currently operating with reduced or critical staff only.

We are working on processing applications as quickly as possible; however, processing times are affected and any disruption caused by COVID-19 is not reflected accurately on our website. We will make all the necessary efforts to finalize your application as soon as possible.

 

[hinavin]

First of all congrats on some progress in your case.Which vo sent this medical request?Lets see how much time they take after your mother takes remedicals.Hopefully she should be able to reach within this year.
Their behaviour is really as if they are obliging us by calling in there.This corona has made them and I think all govts selfish and rude.

Many thanks - wish your words come true!

The re-meds letter came from the Mississauga, Ontario VO, which is also the VO I had applied to.

 

[hinavin]

My medicals and CoPR expired on May 15, 2020 and am still waiting for the medicals request despite the two ghost updates. No one can understand their work pattern. Always pick randomly and process. Hope your mother would be able to come to Canada before Christmas.

Amen! Thank you for the kind wishes!

Both of you could be on the same flight..how about that!

 

[hinavin]

Absolutely furious, devastated and could just sit and cry!

We received our COPR last week and after calling CBSA I was told because i'm an essential worker (Registered Nurse) and I have a job offer and licensure that i'd be able to travel. So I gave my employer a start date, we've rented a furnished property and put down a deposit on a car ready to finalize after we quarantine.

I just rang CBSA again to check whether I needed any specific paperwork to show an exemption to be told that no I don't have an exemption and i'm unable to travel on my COPR, but I could apply for a work permit and travel on that as I would have an exemption with a work permit as an essential worker.

Seriously WTF!!!

I've never known such a stupid situation. We put our house up for sale yesterday and now we're just going to have to cancel everything, we'll have lost nearly $3000 and i'll likely now lose my job because my employer is sick of waiting for me.

Yeah, welcome to Canada!!

Do you have any words of advice @legalfalcon??

You called them twice and you got different answers. If you call again then i believe you will get another answer. Please avoid overthinking and go through following exemption list. If you think that you are exempted because of your profession then travel and meet them at the gate.


https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html#enter

Sorry to hear about your experience - very tough!

BUT - you have CoPR. It is valid. You have exemption as per the list @whyCorona shared above. I echo his suggestion as well. You are fully authorised to travel.

Please travel. Many (I do mean many) members have consistently reported total lack of responsibility while CBSA contact centre answers queries. Equally - IRCC makes the rules. CBSA follows them - so at port of entry CBSA agent would look up your eligibility based on documents you have in possession issued by IRCC, Canadian Government Travel advisory which are all published on their websites. Simple. Clean.

Your ineligibility will arise from false information, mismatched information, criminality and other illegal travel notes and unauthorised items, over limit cash etc etc.

Please breathe easy! Stay calm. I would mention only and to the point when entering Canada. Do not lie. E.g. I do not see any reason to mention conversation with CBSA, since that is not a requirement. With me this far - I hope!!

You would be here, smooth landing and Canada is waiting to welcome you - post us a one liner once landed!

 

[SKAZ]

Dear all,
We are all facing complicated situations and we feel lost by the lack of feedback from IRCC.
Our case is a little different from most of you but we would appreciate your opinions and advice.
On September 17, 2020 we got our Visa and COPR with a validity of 31/12/2020 after our passports were blocked at VFS since March.
Before the virus, we planned and organized our medical visit in such a way that we could travel in the summer of 2020 to allow our child to finish the school year.
Now we are in a situation where we are not comfortable to travel in December. In fact, besides my child's schooling, there is also a significant risk due tu Covid 19 of being in a precarious situation in Canada for the next few months and being unemployed for more than 4 or 6 months,
We have sent webforms for IRCC asking them to extend Visa and COPR until the end of July 2021 (we are even ready to redo the medical visits). This will allow us to better prepare ourselves for a final departure without much shock. Unfortunately, we received standard answers.
The deadline is approaching and we are thinking of letting our Visa and COPR expire. Is there a risk of starting all over again or do you think they will allow us to leave once we are ready to travel by the end of June - beginning of July?
Thanks for your help

 

[Fmegha86]

I think IRCC needs to call a meeting for all its officers and agents and decide some proper guidelines on how coprs have to be extended....all are playing it seems...some sending Al ..some med req..some new copr...some are sleeping lol

The one having our application or 4 or email is definitely sleeping

 

[hinavin]

Dear all,
We are all facing complicated situations and we feel lost by the lack of feedback from IRCC.
Our case is a little different from most of you but we would appreciate your opinions and advice.
On September 17, 2020 we got our Visa and COPR with a validity of 31/12/2020 after our passports were blocked at VFS since March.
Before the virus, we planned and organized our medical visit in such a way that we could travel in the summer of 2020 to allow our child to finish the school year.
Now we are in a situation where we are not comfortable to travel in December. In fact, besides my child's schooling, there is also a significant risk due tu Covid 19 of being in a precarious situation in Canada for the next few months and being unemployed for more than 4 or 6 months,
We have sent webforms for IRCC asking them to extend Visa and COPR until the end of July 2021 (we are even ready to redo the medical visits). This will allow us to better prepare ourselves for a final departure without much shock. Unfortunately, we received standard answers.
The deadline is approaching and we are thinking of letting our Visa and COPR expire. Is there a risk of starting all over again or do you think they will allow us to leave once we are ready to travel by the end of June - beginning of July?
Thanks for your help

The downside of internet forum is everyone has an opinion - and mine might not be the popular one, nor the one you enjoy reading! So please take it with a grain of salt.

Depending on what has a higher priority for you and your family - managing the health risk or immigration - you would choose to:

• Either travel (which has guaranteed positive PR immigration outcome but health risk).
• Or apply for extension - which as is evident is in quite a limbo for most. But avoids travel. Your local physical environment in India would determine safety against COVID when not travelling vs in a flight.

No amount of comments here can give you even 99% assurance that your decision is the correct one. Because we have no idea of your physical environment, family's health and above all:
...what give you confidence! Mentally!

Seeking extension is fine - likely you will receive it as well. How soon is unpredictable - but one expects to get it sooner or later. 2 final things:

• July 2021 or anytime in future is obviously UNKNOWN in terms of safety during flight from COVID 19 risks.
• We cannot seek extensions indefinitely

Other members might chime in with different opinions and I strongly hope you get the strength to take a decision that gives you relative peace and high confidence!

Oh and if it you felt I am leaning towards stating - try level best to TRAVEL before CoPR expires - you would be spot on.

Best wishes!