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When to send email to IRCC.COVID-TravelExemptions-Exemptionsdevoyage-COVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca ?

elias.st

Newbie
Mar 15, 2021
5
0
Hello Everyone

My sister has a Canadian PR and I would like to visit her. I do not have a visa nor authorization and starting fresh. So after reading all the instructions and steps , I applied for a visa online and submitted the IMM0006 (signed, notarized) form
along with my application on the portal. This is what I understood from the instructions on "How to apply for visa"

Then when I read this section https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/visa.html#existing

It says " What to do if you’ve already applied for a visitor visa" . So the first question that comes to mind is , do they mean if you already applied for a visitor visa and received it? or applied and its in process ? Well , since they ask for the application number I thought Ok, this applied to me because I already applied so I need to send an email to IRCC.COVID-TravelExemptions-Exemptionsdevoyage-COVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca with the information and documents

I provided all the information, attached the IMM0006 and requested for prioritization and authorization. Few days later I get a response saying that I do not have a valid visa and authorization letter and they are not able to offer me an
exemption.

What's confusing is that I didn't request for an exemption to start with. All I requested was for prioritization and authorization letter. They even mention that you need to submit your application for authorization

  • your supporting documents to show you’re eligible to travel to Canada at this time (for example, the application for authorization and statutory declaration for extended family members)

So why did they respond to me like that? In which scenarios would you need to send an email to IRCC.COVID-TravelExemptions-Exemptionsdevoyage-COVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca if they don't process your authorization request? From my understanding, an exemption is provided to someone who doesn't need an authorization letter (immediate family member for instance)

Do I need to respond now or just wait till my application is done processing? So confused kindly help
 

pat40

Hero Member
Jan 21, 2020
395
174
Hello Everyone

My sister has a Canadian PR and I would like to visit her. I do not have a visa nor authorization and starting fresh. So after reading all the instructions and steps , I applied for a visa online and submitted the IMM0006 (signed, notarized) form
along with my application on the portal. This is what I understood from the instructions on "How to apply for visa"

Then when I read this section https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/visa.html#existing

It says " What to do if you’ve already applied for a visitor visa" . So the first question that comes to mind is , do they mean if you already applied for a visitor visa and received it? or applied and its in process ? Well , since they ask for the application number I thought Ok, this applied to me because I already applied so I need to send an email to IRCC.COVID-TravelExemptions-Exemptionsdevoyage-COVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca with the information and documents

I provided all the information, attached the IMM0006 and requested for prioritization and authorization. Few days later I get a response saying that I do not have a valid visa and authorization letter and they are not able to offer me an
exemption.

What's confusing is that I didn't request for an exemption to start with. All I requested was for prioritization and authorization letter. They even mention that you need to submit your application for authorization

  • your supporting documents to show you’re eligible to travel to Canada at this time (for example, the application for authorization and statutory declaration for extended family members)

So why did they respond to me like that? In which scenarios would you need to send an email to IRCC.COVID-TravelExemptions-Exemptionsdevoyage-COVID.IRCC@cic.gc.ca if they don't process your authorization request? From my understanding, an exemption is provided to someone who doesn't need an authorization letter (immediate family member for instance)

Do I need to respond now or just wait till my application is done processing? So confused kindly help
according to me you are not considered as a immediate family member of your sister. So i think your file will not be prioritize. And yes you only need to request for authorization letter in that email. You can request for authorization latter anytime however, they will ask for flight details in order to issue authorization letter.

correct me if I'm wrong.
 

elias.st

Newbie
Mar 15, 2021
5
0
Yes that's correct I am not immediate family. I am considered extended family member. So extended family aren't given priority ?
So am I doing the right procedure and requesting authorization from the mentioned email? But I already provided them all the details with the IMM0006 form signed and notarized. Why are they telling me that we can not give you authorization since you don't have visa? Do I need to wait for my visa application to be competed THEN send them the email?

I am worried that visa application officers tell me that visa will not be issued because I dont have authorization, then I ll be stuck in limbo
 

pat40

Hero Member
Jan 21, 2020
395
174
Yes that's correct I am not immediate family. I am considered extended family member. So extended family aren't given priority ?
So am I doing the right procedure and requesting authorization from the mentioned email? But I already provided them all the details with the IMM0006 form signed and notarized. Why are they telling me that we can not give you authorization since you don't have visa? Do I need to wait for my visa application to be competed THEN send them the email?

I am worried that visa application officers tell me that visa will not be issued because I dont have authorization, then I ll be stuck in limbo
Yes you are right. Extended family are not given priority. And for authorization request i am not that aware of procedure. May be someone experienced will guid you on this
 

aliasgirl

Member
Feb 28, 2021
18
5
Hi,

because you started fresh, no visa, there was no need to send the email. The instructions were a bit confusing. They evaluate whether you qualify for visa and authorization letter during the visa application process, and you will get an answer on both at the same time. Extended family is prioritized if you filled out the visa application as they said in instructions. Choosing purpose of travel as other then covid 19. If you did all this,justfollow the visa status process and when decision comes, if positive it will have both answers.
 

pat40

Hero Member
Jan 21, 2020
395
174
Hi,

because you started fresh, no visa, there was no need to send the email. The instructions were a bit confusing. They evaluate whether you qualify for visa and authorization letter during the visa application process, and you will get an answer on both at the same time. Extended family is prioritized if you filled out the visa application as they said in instructions. Choosing purpose of travel as other then covid 19. If you did all this,justfollow the visa status process and when decision comes, if positive it will have both answers.
I just read that again and yes you are right. Extended family of PR is also given prioritization.
 

Manishrana1

Full Member
Feb 18, 2021
20
1
Hi, same question, when can we send them an email to prioritize the application? I have applied for my daughter about 4 days ago and she fell under extended family member. But one more thing I did mention purpose of travel other and father medical condition (which is me). Is it ok to put other and medical condition instead other and COVID-19? Plz let me know I am bit concerned. thank u
 

pat40

Hero Member
Jan 21, 2020
395
174
Hi, same question, when can we send them an email to prioritize the application? I have applied for my daughter about 4 days ago and she fell under extended family member. But one more thing I did mention purpose of travel other and father medical condition (which is me). Is it ok to put other and medical condition instead other and COVID-19? Plz let me know I am bit concerned. thank u
If you know you need to mention COVID-19 to get prioritize your application then why did you write different thing? Well im not sure whether you get prioritize or not now but you can email them on THAT email if you don't heard anything in few weeks or you can send them now if you want.
 
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sarvesh90

Hero Member
Jun 18, 2018
505
130
Yes that's correct I am not immediate family. I am considered extended family member. So extended family aren't given priority ?
So am I doing the right procedure and requesting authorization from the mentioned email? But I already provided them all the details with the IMM0006 form signed and notarized. Why are they telling me that we can not give you authorization since you don't have visa? Do I need to wait for my visa application to be competed THEN send them the email?

I am worried that visa application officers tell me that visa will not be issued because I dont have authorization, then I ll be stuck in limbo
Extended family members can also be prioritized if you provide a strong enough reason for the visit. You will also have to fill up form IMM0006.

Please refer to this link for detailed information. You can also email that address for prioritization.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors/visa.html#existing