Migration Law Immigration Lawyers
International Travel to and from the United States
Posted On: 2023-01-02
Beginning January 5, at 12:01AM ET, there are new requirements for air passengers 2 years of age and older traveling to the United States from China, Hong Kong, or Macau, and those traveling from Seoul, Toronto, and Vancouver who have been in China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the past 10 days. These passengers, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 2 days before their flight departs. Those who had COVID-19 in the 90 days before their travel to the United States can instead show documentation of recovery from COVID-19.
Special program to sponsor Afghan refugees without refugee status from the UNHCR or a foreign state
Posted On: 2022-10-06
IRCC has recently announced that starting October 17, 2022, they will accept Group of Five and Community Sponsorships for Afghan refugees who do not have a Refugee Status Determination (RSD) document from the UNHCR or a foreign state.
The special program will end on October 17, 2023 or as soon as 3,000 applications have been received.
You can sponsor any Afghan refugee who is outside of Afghanistan and meets the definition of Convention refugee or Country of Asylum refugee. The program will now allow Afghan refugees to apply without the RSD document which was, until now, the biggest hurdle to apply under the normal Group of Five and Community Sponsorship programs.
It is important that the application be completed and filed as soon as possible due to the limited number of applications that will be accepted.
Please contact at 416-862-0000 to schedule your consultation with a professional in our firm.
For more information please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/afghanistan/special-measures/sponsor-without-rsd.html
CANADA’S 2022-2024 IMMIGRATION LEVELS PLAN
Posted On: 2022-02-25
Canada sets a new record by targeting 431,645 new immigrants in 2022. In his statement on February 14th, 2022, Minister of Immigration Sean Fraser, outlined the rationale for the new levels plan as Canada continues to rely on immigrants to support a healthy economy, population growth and strengthen the Canadian labour force.
PROCESSING UPDATES FROM IRCC
Posted On: 2021-12-03
The current Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) global pandemic is causing severe disruptions to IRCC and the processing of various types of immigration and citizenship applications.
The link below, updated almost daily by IRCC should be followed to know impacts on different aspects of their services:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-special-measures.html
Additionally, on 26 March 2020, IRCC released the updated travel restrictions imposed and exemptions allowed through their Program Delivery guidelines available at this link:
OFFICE CLOSURES:
Posted On: 2021-11-21
Some Visa Application Centres (VACs) are closed overseas. The closures (and openings) of these offices changes almost daily. New applicants for Temporary Visas are strongly encouraged to apply online as IRCC continues to process new applications received.
Follow the link below to find the office you need and its current status:
Biometric Collection Services in Canada at Service Canada centres are temporarily suspended until further notice:
REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS ON ALL OPEN IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS:
Posted On: 2021-04-15
Offices will continue to issue request letters for additional documents, including police certificates, biometrics, medicals, passports, etc.
All previously issued letters giving applicants 30 days to comply will be extended to 90 days. Newly issued instructions will reflect the 90 day allowance to comply.
Biometrics letters with 30 day time limits will automatically be extended for 90 days instead of 30, giving applicants a further 60 days to comply from the original time limit.
CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS:
Posted On: 2021-11-03
IRCC operations are reduced to critical services. However, new applications are still be received at the Case Processing Centre, Sydney, Nova Scotia.
All Citizenship Oath ceremonies, tests, re-tests and hearings have been cancelled and will be re-scheduled at a later date.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-special-measures.html
TRAVEL TO CANADA RESTRICTIONS AND EXEMPTIONS:
Posted On: 2021-10-01
All foreign nationals are being denied boarding on flights to Canada, unless they are exempt from the current travel restrictions.
Only Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents and their family members, and some foreign nationals travelling from the United States who have been in the US for at least 14 days and are asymptomatic will be able to enter Canada by air.
Citizens and Permanent Residents who are symptomatic will also not be allowed to board a flight. However, they will be allowed into Canada through a land border but will be mandated to self-isolate for 14 days.
Family members referred to above are defined as children, grand-children, parents and step-parents and a guardian or tutor of the Citizen or Permanent Resident
Temporary foreign workers, as well as international students who have a valid study permit or who were approved for a study permit before March 18, 2020, and foreign nationals who were approved for permanent residence before March 16, 2020, but who hadn’t yet travelled to Canada, will be exempt from these restrictions.
All essential and business travel through land borders will not be affected.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-special-measures.html
PERSONS OUTSIDE CANADA WITH APPROVED PERMANENT RESIDENCE DOCUMENTS:
Posted On: 2021-09-28
Persons who have been approved for Permanent Residence have been listed in the persons who will receive an exemption and will be able to travel to Canada.
The link below has instructions on measures to take if your COPR document is expiring soon and you are unable to travel to Canada:
TEMPORARY FOREIGN NATIONALS IN CANADA:
Posted On: 2021-08-10
All temporary workers, students and visitors in Canada can apply to have their temporary status extended if they are unable to travel due to the travel restrictions placed by most countries abroad.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-special-measures.html
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND ONLINE STUDIES
Posted On: 2021-07-23
IRCC has confirmed that International Students who have resorted to online studies on an exceptional basis due to Covid-19 will not affect Post-Graduate Work Permit program eligibility.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-special-measures.html