06/25/2020
COVID-19 Virus
The COVID-19 virus is causing numerous disruptions and unprecedented actions around the globe. We hope that you and your staff remain safe and healthy during these extraordinary times. Please check up-to-date travel advisories and restrictions, and advise all clients to only travel when it is absolutely necessary.
Canada
Canada has imposed travel restrictions on people entering the country, to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The following people are allowed to enter:
Canadian citizens and their immediate family members
Canadian permanent residents and their immediate family members
Temporary foreign workers who are coming to Canada for an essential purpose
Approved permanent resident applicants (who were approved on/before Mar.18/20)
International students (with a study visa issued on/before Mar.18/20)
Note that each province has its own travel restrictions, so while someone may be allowed to enter Canada, they may not be able to travel to their destination province.
People who have received Work Permits, Permanent Resident Visas, etc., are encouraged NOT to travel at this time, unless it is essential. Travelling solely to activate a visa is NOT considered an essential reason to travel. Rather, people are encouraged to attend landing appointments by phone, and to extend their visas until it is safe to travel. Note that people with PR applications approved after Mar.18/20 are not allowed to enter Canada at this time.
People who show symptoms of COVID-19 are not allowed to board planes to fly to Canada at this time. Canadian Border Services will assess the health of everyone upon arrival in Canada.
Additionally, anyone who travels internationally is subject to a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period upon entry to Canada, even if they show no symptoms. Upon entering Canada, people will be asked for a self-isolation plan, and placed into a facility/hotel for mandatory isolation if their plan is not feasible.
The below website provides further details:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-special-measures.html
Biometrics deadlines will automatically be extended from 30 days to 90 days for all applicants:
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/where-to-give-biometrics.asp?utm_source=slash-biometrics_biometrie&utm_medium=short-url-en&utm_campaign=biometrics
You’ll have to make a new appointment at a Service Canada office or a United States (US) application support center (ASC) once they start collecting biometrics again.
