I have a unique problem with my PR landing process. I would appreciate someone who is very knowledgeable to share solution(s) to my situation, which is also impacted by COVID-19 like everyone else on here. Here is my story:
- 9 days before my flight to Toronto for landing, I couldn't find my COPR document. I communicated to the regional VAC that the COPR was lost. They replied 2 days later with instructions on how to get an original COPR re-printed.
- I eventually found the COPR doc a day before my flight. I arrived in Toronto on 13 March 2020 to complete my PR landing, but the officer advised that the COPR as well as my immigration visa was cancelled by the issuing VAC, and only they can can re-instate it.
- I was never notified by email or phone about the cancellation of my immigration visa and COPR, hence my surprise upon landing in Toronto. The VAC should have at least informed either me or my consultant as a heads up that they are cancelling it, I would have urgently updated them that I found it so they can re-instate it.
- The officer in Toronto said I need to get in touch with the VAC to reinstate it and do an inland from inside Canada. They couldn't do anything at Toronto. I was unable to complete my landing on 13 March.
- I entered the country on visitor status and have been in Ottawa since then. My COPR/Visa was re-authorized by the VAC on 17 Mar and is currently valid for landing, until 5 May. My COPR/immigration visa expires on 5/5/2020.
- I spoke to a call center agent on 18 March from Ottawa who said that inland appointments are postponed till 13 April, so I'll have to wait until then. He confirmed he put in an urgent request for IRCC Ottawa office to schedule my inland appointment once they reopen on 13 April.
- Since then there has been a complete lock down, call center is no longer in operation. I can't reach anyone in the IRCC over the phone. I submitted a webform and emailed them but still no response.
My visa expires on 5 May (2.5 weeks) and I am very anxious and stressed about my expiry date looming. What is very frustrating is that I am inside Canada and I know they are processing PR applications at Pearson Airport as of this week, where I was originally supposed to do my landing. I spoke to a superintendent at CBSA in Pearson Airport yesterday, 16 April, and she confirmed they are processing PR landing applications. They are much lower in number comparatively, but she said there was a family of 5 that was processed earlier this week who came in from London.
I would like answers to the following question:
- The IRCC website states that they are scheduling inland appointments for approved PR applicants inside Canada via telephone. Here is this link. Are they doing this? If yes, then how can we get an appointment scheduled?
- If my COPR/visa documents expire without doing my landing, will IIRC:
- Cancel the entire thing, and I will need to do the entire express entry process again?
- Ask to do my biometrics and get a new visa re-printed, and provide a list of all the documents they need (employment letter <I quit my job already>, birth certificates, medicals, police clearance, etc)?
- Extend the date of the current COPR/visa once they re-open for PR inland process so I can complete my landing?
I would highly appreciate anyone's help and information on the above. I am in quite a desperate situation, as I am sure alot of people are across the world.
Thank you
Hoda