Immigration Update: Various Updates (September 18, 2020 at 12:00 PM EDT)

Temporary reprieve for PNP candidates who have lost their employment: losing employment before landing has almost always been fatal to a PNP applicant’s application for permanent residence. IRCC has put a temporary measure in place for Provincial Nominee Class applicants who have lost their job and whose applications were received before March 18, 2020. From September 17 to November 17, 2020, PNP offices can request that these applicants’ cases be put on hold (until March 17, 2021 at the latest). This will allow these candidates time to secure new employment.

 

Canada-U.S. border to remain closed for another month: the closure has been extended once again to October 21.

 

Entry to Canada from all countries other than the U.S.: the restrictions are in effect until September 30 and will likely be extended. No announcement has been made on this yet.

 

Self-isolation exemptions under media scrutiny: this week there has been media attention on who is eligible for an exemption from the 14-day self-isolation requirement based on national interest considerations. We are monitoring the situation closely to see if the government will clarify or amend its current position relating to these national interest exemptions.

 

Biometrics collection in Canada to gradually resume: for now this is limited to permanent residence applicants. Service Canada officers will reach out to candidates to schedule the appointment. Biometrics for temporary residence applicants in Canada are waived until further notice.

 

Certain visitors can now apply for work permits from within Canada: certain visitors who are in Canada and have received a job offer can apply for an employer-specific work permit without leaving the country. Without this temporary public policy in place these individuals would need to make an application from outside Canada and as part of that process leave and re-enter the country to obtain the work permit.

 

We continue to recommend that anyone (including Canadian citizens and permanent residents) seeking to enter or exit Canada speak with an immigration lawyer before doing so. Our lawyers can be reached by phone (416 368 1111) or via email: caruso@cilf.ca; guberman@cilf.ca; appleby@cilf.ca; cowling@cilf.ca; fagan@cilf.ca; bonisteel@cilf.ca; elmalah@cilf.ca; tsoi@cilf.ca; ali@cilf.ca; green@cilf.ca;