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Here is the Global Immigration News You NEED to Know Now
GLOBAL IMMIGRATION NEWS
Feature Article
IMMIGRATION AND TRAVEL-RELATED IMPLICATIONS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: AN OVERVIEW
Country-by-Country Summaries
- 95% of their personnel works remotely.
- MIFI is expected to announce measures to streamline their operations regarding paper submissions soon.
- Will IRCC emulate France, Australia, and New Zealand’s initiative and automatically extend status documents by 3-6 months?
- Will MIFI allow electronic signatures and electronic submission of applications?
- Service Canada is discussing labor mobility for in-Canada workers on closed work permits. Will workers be allowed to move and/or change employers more easily?
- Will Service Canada ease recruitment requirements for LMIAs?
- Contrary to what was announced recently, U.S. citizens and individuals who have been residing in the United States in the past 2 weeks will no longer be able to travel to Canada by land or air for tourism or recreational purposes.
- It appears that U.S. citizens with work permits to Canada will continue to be allowed into Canada, but will have to abide by the 14-day self-isolation period upon their admission.
- Essential travel remains allowed to protect trans-border supply chains.
- As noted above, work or study permit holders should remain in Canada. If they exit the country, there is a possibility that they may not be able to re-enter Canada.
- Companies should review the expiration dates of all their temporary foreign workers (SIN starting with a 9). Processing times for in-Canada renewals are currently already at 89 days, and will likely increase further due to increased volume of applicants from inside Canada, and lower staffing at Immigration Canada.
- Renewals should be initiated well in advance. Submitting a renewal application 6 months before the expiration date is recommended.
- Layoffs of foreign workers may affect their immigration status, capacity to remain in Canada and renew their work permits, and companies’ ability to use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in the future. Companies should attempt to re-hire laid-off personnel, including foreign workers, as soon as they are able to.
- Companies that have received Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) usually must ensure that the subsequent work permit based thereon be activated within 6 months. In light of the current economic situation, the Canadian government has announced that companies can delay the arrival of the foreign worker, and the activation of the work permit, up to 9 months after LMIA issuance.
- Many service providers who are essential to Canadian immigration applications—for instance, who issue police clearance certificates, provide immigration medical examinations, offer language testing in English and French, and issue educational credential evaluations—have temporarily ceased their operations. Immigration Canada said it will consider deadline extensions on a case-by-case basis. Notably, biometrics can now be completed in 90 days instead of 30, even if the templated biometrics letter states 30 days.
Other Neighboring Regions
National Travel Restrictions
Useful Links:
- Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) and Permanent Residence Permit (PRP):
- Annulments:
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