Coronavirus: Canada Offers Applicants an Extra 90 Days to Complete Biometrics

With the global outbreak of coronavirus, The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada or IRCC is looking to help candidates by implementing some extraordinary measures. Those applying for a Canadian visa are facing significant difficulties due to the various COVID-19 containment measures that are being strictly followed by countries like Iran, China, and South Korea.

Canada is providing applicants an extended period of 90 days to complete their required steps involving the biometrics. It includes applicants who are facing disruptions in service, has very little or no access to local businesses, and the government has limited access to qualify for the medical exam of immigration by a physician or closed visa application centers.

There are also online forms via which the IRCC will extend a helping hand to candidates who want to return to Canada and require one permanent residency travel document. Even to candidates who have incomplete applications under categories of permanent residency, work permit, study permit, or a visitor visa.

The candidates under the Express Entry category after receiving their ITA will have to respond within 60 days. If they have any incomplete documents, they need to submit a letter via the online portal of IRCC, briefly explaining the reason behind their missing documents. If a candidate misses an important event of their citizenship application process, then within 30 days, they will require to contact IRCC by the online form.

Students, visitors, and temporary workers cannot leave the boundaries of Canada until further notice, there are many options available for them. Visitors on a tourist visa can apply online to extend their stay. Students or workers who aren’t working or studying anymore can change their respective permits to ‘visitor.’

If eligible, workers and students can also extend the duration of their permit in Canada. On the expiration of these permits and passes, candidates have a span of 90 days to restore their status. If they fail to do so, then they have to apply for a license for temporary residents in Canada.

IRCC has also provided instructions for emergency cases. If one is looking for a permanent resident travel document, a work permit, or a tourist visa, the candidate has to email the visa office in Beijing and request for urgent processing of the application. Candidates from Iran will have to do the same and send a mail to Ankara. Candidates from South Korea will have to mail the visa office in Manila, Philippines.