published on 17 March 2020 @ 9:27 am · COMMENT

URGENT: CANADA BORDER CLOSURES EFFECTIVE MARCH 18, 2020

As concerns over COVID-19 continue to escalate, the Government of Canada announced additional measures to protect the health, safety and well-being of Canadians and to limit the spread of the virus in Canada. Specifically, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the following measures, effective at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, for air travel specifically:

• Foreign nationals, other than American citizens, will be barred from entering Canada. Exceptions include air crews, travellers arriving in Canada in transit to a third country, Canadian permanent residents, diplomats, or immediate family members of Canadian citizens;

 

• International passenger flight arrivals are being limited to four (4) airports: Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, and Calgary International Airport. At this time, this measure does not apply to domestic flights from the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, or St. Pierre-et-Miquelon. These flights will continue to operate on their regular routes and land at their intended destinations;

 

• Screening measures at airports will be strengthened. This will include stronger and more visible messaging, health screening at kiosks, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection of high-traffic areas and airport facilities.

 

The following additional measures will be in place for all international travellers:

 

• If any traveller presents with COVID-19 symptoms, including Canadian citizens, they will not be permitted to board a flight to Canada, including those from the United States. Airlines will be conducting basic health assessments of all air travellers based on guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada;

 

• In the event the traveller presents COVID-19 symptoms, the airlines will be required to refuse to board the passenger for travel for a period of 14 days, or until a medical certificate is presented that confirms that the traveller does not carry the virus;

 

• All travellers to Canada are urged to self-isolate for fourteen (14) days upon entry. For those travelling by air, the request to self-isolate will be clearly communicated at multiple points, including when purchasing a plane ticket, before boarding the plane, and again upon arrival;

 

• Exemptions to self-isolation will be provided to healthy workers who provide essential services, including workers in the trade and transportation sector who are necessary for the movement of goods and people across the border, such as truck drivers and airplane, train or marine vessel crews, as well as those who are required to cross the border to go to work, including health care providers and critical infrastructure workers.

 

With respect to immigration and citizenship applications in Canada, the following measures are in place:

 

• All citizenship tests, retests and citizenship ceremonies have been cancelled until further notice;

 

• All in-person permanent resident landing appointments have been cancelled until further notice;

 

• All refugee in-person appointments have been cancelled until April 13, 2020; and

 

• All in-person hearings and mediations, other than detention reviews, at the Immigration and Refugee Board are postponed effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020 through Sunday, April 5, 2020. Updates to this notice will be communicated on or before April 5, 2020.

 

Finally, the following Visa Application Centres have been temporarily closed/limited due to the pandemic:

 

• Beijing, China – Open only to provide limited biometric services
• Bucharest, Romania – Temporarily closed until further notice
• Caracas, Venezuela – Temporarily closed until further notice
• Chengdu, China – Open only to provide limited biometric services
• Chongqing, China – Open only to provide limited biometric services
• Erbil, Iraq – Temporarily closed until further notice
• Guangzhou, China – Open only to provide limited biometric services
• Hangzhou, China – Open only to provide limited biometric services
• Jinan, China – Open only to provide limited biometric services
• Kunming, China – Open only to provide limited biometric services
• Kuwait City – Temporarily closed until further notice
• Lima, Peru – Temporarily closed until further notice
• Lyon, France – Temporarily closed until further notice
• Madrid, Spain – Temporarily closed until further notice
• Manila, Philippines – Temporarily closed until further notice
• Nanjing, China – Open only to provide limited biometric services
• Paris, France – Temporarily closed until further notice
• Rome, Italy – Temporarily closed until further notice
• Shanghai, China – Open only to provide limited biometric services
• Shenyang, China – Open only to provide limited biometrics services
• Tel Aviv, Israel – Temporarily closed until further notice
• Vienna, Austria – Temporarily closed until further notice
• Wuhan, China – Temporarily closed until further notice

 

Immigration Implications

 

In light of the above, applicants for Canada’s various immigration programs must be aware of the following:

 

• We strongly recommend that holders of work and study permits currently outside of Canada return to Canada before 12:01 a.m. on March 18, 2020 to ensure that they are able to re-enter Canada;

 

• Foreign nationals who are not citizens of the United States will not be able to travel to Canada and obtain work/study permits at the Canadian port of entry, effective March 18, 2020;

 

• Applications for temporary and permanent residence can continue to be submitted online, and processing will continue;

 

• Until further notice, offices may continue to request any additional documents necessary for the processing to continue in relation to all citizenship and immigration applications, including police certificates, biometrics, passports, medical examinations and any documents that must be issued by Chinese, Iranian, or South Korean authorities. However, when additional documentation is required to make a decision on the application, processing officers are instructed to allow 90 days for an applicant to respond, provide an additional 90 days for requests previously sent where an applicant was unable to comply within the deadline, and biometric request letters will be valid for 90 days, despite the 30-day timeline identified in the letter;

 

• Applications for permanent residence may still be submitted, even if supporting documentation is missing, with an explanation indicating that they are affected by the service disruptions as a result of the coronavirus. The application may then be promoted and reviewed in 90 days; and

 

• Permanent resident applicants with a valid Confirmation of Permanent Residence and Permanent Resident Visa who are unable to travel within the validity of their documentation must advise IRCC immediately.

 

We continue to be dedicated to providing our clients with excellence, integrity and care during these uncertain times. The exceptionally talented team at BARTLAW LLP will continue to provide outstanding immigration legal services. We have a business continuity strategy in place to provide immigration services to you without disruption. To our clients in Canada and around the world, rest assured that you can rely on us to guide you through this challenge we are all facing.