Hi Everyone, I am posting this on here to find a solution to my concerns. I am a student here in British Columbia, Canada. I just completed the Winter semester, 2020 and I was supposed to extend my Study permit a month before it expires. But before applying for the study permit, I was supposed to renew my Nigerian International passport before applying to extend my study permit. March 25th, 2020 was my Interview date to renew my Nigerian passport and few days to my interview date, I saw on their website that the Nigerian Embassy in Ottawa has been closed till further notice due to the Covid 19 pandemic. I contacted them via email and before that, I have called the office in Ottawa but it is impossible to reach them because each time you call their number, it is always on busy mode, so they responded to my email and told me that they can't renew my international passport that If I must leave Canada, I should apply for an Emergency Travel document (ETC) despite explaining in my email what I want to use it for. Both my Nigerian passport and study permit were expiring same day on 29th April, 2020.
I went as far as contact IRCC on the phone but no agent were available to answer the phone due to the Covid 19 but I sent them a message on their website and after explaining to them, I got a general reply indicating that I can apply but not really addressing the question to apply with my old Nigerian passport that will be expiring soon. I went as far as going to the closest immigration boarder in Rossland, BC, to explain my current situation, and they told me they don't deal on student permit but at this point, they will only advise me not to leave Canada till the whole pandemic is over but I should still try to contact the immigration office responsible for student permit.
Few days before my study permit and Nigerian international passport will expire, I had to proceed with my application to extend my study permit on the 28th April, 2020 with the old Nigerian passport which will be expiring on the 29th of April, 2020; same day with my study permit. But the problem is that after uploading my documents online at the IRCC website, I couldn't proceed with the payment because the system did not display the option to proceed with payment to submit my application. I also tried the next day and it was the same thing. So I couldn't submit my application to extend my study permit but I took pictures of it for record purpose.
Now both my Nigerian passport and my study permit are expired. But I have every supporting documents to support my claim including my flight ticket to Ottawa to renew my Nigerian International passport which I canceled as a result of the Pandemic.
I am aware I can restore my status in Canada within 90 days. I contacted an Immigration agency and I was told that for them to restore my status, I need to renew my Nigerian International Passport first before they can do that. The Nigerian embassy in Ottawa are not renewing passports because of the Pandemic. What Can I do at this point?
Thank you in advance for your opinions.
I went as far as contact IRCC on the phone but no agent were available to answer the phone due to the Covid 19 but I sent them a message on their website and after explaining to them, I got a general reply indicating that I can apply but not really addressing the question to apply with my old Nigerian passport that will be expiring soon. I went as far as going to the closest immigration boarder in Rossland, BC, to explain my current situation, and they told me they don't deal on student permit but at this point, they will only advise me not to leave Canada till the whole pandemic is over but I should still try to contact the immigration office responsible for student permit.
Few days before my study permit and Nigerian international passport will expire, I had to proceed with my application to extend my study permit on the 28th April, 2020 with the old Nigerian passport which will be expiring on the 29th of April, 2020; same day with my study permit. But the problem is that after uploading my documents online at the IRCC website, I couldn't proceed with the payment because the system did not display the option to proceed with payment to submit my application. I also tried the next day and it was the same thing. So I couldn't submit my application to extend my study permit but I took pictures of it for record purpose.
Now both my Nigerian passport and my study permit are expired. But I have every supporting documents to support my claim including my flight ticket to Ottawa to renew my Nigerian International passport which I canceled as a result of the Pandemic.
I am aware I can restore my status in Canada within 90 days. I contacted an Immigration agency and I was told that for them to restore my status, I need to renew my Nigerian International Passport first before they can do that. The Nigerian embassy in Ottawa are not renewing passports because of the Pandemic. What Can I do at this point?
Thank you in advance for your opinions.