COPR and coronavirus

[prusa]

Dude its the same situation here. Everything is under lockdown in Canada as well. So stay put, I don't think you would be spending a lot of money in india compared to staying in Canada without a job and spending your savings.
I moved to Canada in January and Yes I just got a job in April , I had spent half of my savings just for a job search (Travelling for interviews). It takes time to find a job over here and with the current situation, I would suggest you hold back until there is a slowdown. I have seen many of my friends who laid off due to the COVID.
All the best for your move .

I agree now would not be a good time to permanently move to Canada. Cost of living is much higher: Rent, Groceries will make a huge hole in your savings. Finding for a place to live would be difficult given the current situation. Additionally you wouldn't have a car and using public transport would add on additional risk for the virus. Finding a new job would be easier in your home country than in a new place. Obviously, situation would vary for everyone.

Living in Canada without a job would be no fun.

 

[SCOTCAD]

All drive test centres in Ontario have closed, so the only way currently to exchange your license is to go to the college park Service Ontario in Toronto, the only one in the province offering this service at the moment.

I live about 3 and a half hours from Toronto in Windsor, so a bit of a pain, just bear this in mind that if you have no license at all and not based on Toronto it may be difficult to obtain one right now.

 

[Bs65]

I believe if flights are allowed after April then one should travel and complete the landing with their current valid CoPR. But it should be clear to them to serve 14 days self isolation and self sustaining themselves for few months maybe up to June/July. Cases might be different from person to person. Only thing is that one should not make hasty decisions which might end up in the worst decisions.

People should keep in mind that international airlines are unlikely to simply just start up routes/schedules straight away unless they are convinced they can get a decent passenger load on their flights.

For sure if a restriction finishes on one day then obviously they are unlikely to just start up the following day given they have so many planes parked up and crews furloughed all these things will take time if not weeks/months to get fully going again. Even then some routes/schedules that some airlines had before COVID may never come back with airlines such a Lufthansa and BA looking to retire and not replace many of their older planes..

One other thing to also keep a watch for is AIRBNB is getting a lot of pressure to restrict short term rentals. This is to try to stem the movement of people during COVID into less well equiped communities but could have a negative effect potentially also on any new immigrants looking to use AIRBNB for isolation for example.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-ontario-joins-quebec-in-restricting-short-term-rentals-during/

 

[DixvilleNotch]

I filled out a webform last week about not being able to travel before my copr expires in may. i haven't heard anything back yet. i'm in the us, so land borders are technically open. but it's too high risk to travel imo.

are they only responding after documents have expired? what's usually the response time to web form queries? don't want to jam their backlog with multiple requests right now but not sure what other options are available right now?

 

[aurelero]

People should keep in mind that international airlines are unlikely to simply just start up routes/schedules straight away unless they are convinced they can get a decent passenger load on their flights.

For sure if a restriction finishes on one day then obviously they are unlikely to just start up the following day given they have so many planes parked up and crews furloughed all these things will take time if not weeks/months to get fully going again. Even then some routes/schedules that some airlines had before COVID may never come back with airlines such a Lufthansa and BA looking to retire and not replace many of their older planes..

One other thing to also keep a watch for is AIRBNB is getting a lot of pressure to restrict short term rentals. This is to try to stem the movement of people during COVID into less well equiped communities but could have a negative effect potentially also on any new immigrants looking to use AIRBNB for isolation for example.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-ontario-joins-quebec-in-restricting-short-term-rentals-during/

What is considered "short term rental" in Canada? I was planning to rent a place with Airbnb for 1 or 2 months in a row.

 

[hinavin]

I filled out a webform last week about not being able to travel before my copr expires in may. i haven't heard anything back yet. i'm in the us, so land borders are technically open. but it's too high risk to travel imo.

are they only responding after documents have expired? what's usually the response time to web form queries? don't want to jam their backlog with multiple requests right now but not sure what other options are available right now?

The first cookie cutter acknowledgements took a week in my case (I think for most).

I get a feeling that specific responses are received:
a) once the CoPR has expired
b) from local VO offices

Like some have opined before - IF the border is open and exemptions are in place both in host country and in Canada, it signifies ability to travel. In which case we are appealing to IRCC that we want to avoid travel due to risk factors. What will the IRCC decision be is only a guess work. One assumes, that it will favour applicants since health risk of contracting is understandable.

Going by the web form, and also the Operations / Instructions manual (there was a link in somewhere) IRCC officers are being asked to put a note on file upon receipt of web form and pend for 90 days. Next once the applicant informs that he/she is now ready to travel (via another web form for the purpose) the Visa Office will dispatch further instructions on what steps to be taken.

In one example, the medical was extended by 6 months (not requested for additional medical tests) and the fresh CoPR is being granted with extended dates.

Needless to say there would be several factors to whether and which applicants are asked to take re-tests for medicals, and which other applicants are provided straight forward extensions without medical re-tests. Age, previous medical report, country of origin / residence etc can all be factors behind that decision.

I have not come across a single rejection of CoPR extension after the new COVID 19 web forms were announced. Someone's extension ask was rejected early on but at that time, these additional measures were not yet in place by IRCC.

 

[hinavin]

What is considered "short term rental" in Canada? I was planning to rent a place with Airbnb for 1 or 2 months in a row.

I believe it is 28 days or less. But not sure if that will help you if the AirBnB itself is put under temporary restriction to operate. If it is 2 months or so, you should be able to find accommodation, I would imagine.

Please check: www.kijiji.ca or craigslist
https://www.kijiji.ca/b-vacation-rentals-ontario/c812l1700276?address=Mississauga, ON L5N 2C7&ll=43.584145,-79.763469&radius=24.0

 

[SCOTCAD]

Little update from today just to summarise:

SIN number

You are now able to apply for a SIN number online, as far as I'm aware this is an entirely new service. You are no longer able to apply for your SIN number in person. This can be done here:

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/sin-applicant-guide.html

Please note this requires a proof of address when you upload documents. I would advise getting this in whatever format first.

Bank Account

I visited a HSBC branch today to set up a newcomer account. I already have a HSBC account in the uk so this was especially useful as I can maintain my Canadian and UK account all from one portal. The process was relatively quick and easy and the staff were very friendly and helpful. Banks are considered an essential service so you should still be able to visit a branch to do so. I did not require an appointment and was advised to just turn up at the branch within the opening hours.

The bank asked for my SIN which I explained I did not have yet, they still managed to open my account without it and I will update them once received.

Driving License

Drive test centres in Canada have now shut meaning there is only one location in Ontario to exchange a foreign license, this is at the college Park service Ontario. It is important to note if you are moving to canada now and either cannot drive yet or come from a country without a reciprocal agreement with Canadian driving authorities it will not be possible to learn to drive or sit any driving examinations for the time being.

OHIP

As it is Easter weekend I will not manage to go to a service Ontario until next week to apply for OHIP. Currently the three month waiting period has been removed so I should be able to obtain this as soon as the paperwork is processed. I will update once I have managed to do this.

 

[Islander216]

You guys should land soon, weather is getting nice now.

 

[SCOTCAD]

You guys should land soon, weather is getting nice now.

...It was literally snowing half an hour ago in Windsor

 

[CanImmigrant_sa]

d

Little update from today just to summarise:

SIN number

You are now able to apply for a SIN number online, as far as I'm aware this is an entirely new service. You are no longer able to apply for your SIN number in person. This can be done here:

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/sin-applicant-guide.html

Please note this requires a proof of address when you upload documents. I would advise getting this in whatever format first.

Bank Account

I visited a HSBC branch today to set up a newcomer account. I already have a HSBC account in the uk so this was especially useful as I can maintain my Canadian and UK account all from one portal. The process was relatively quick and easy and the staff were very friendly and helpful. Banks are considered an essential service so you should still be able to visit a branch to do so. I did not require an appointment and was advised to just turn up at the branch within the opening hours.

The bank asked for my SIN which I explained I did not have yet, they still managed to open my account without it and I will update them once received.

Driving License

Drive test centres in Canada have now shut meaning there is only one location in Ontario to exchange a foreign license, this is at the college Park service Ontario. It is important to note if you are moving to canada now and either cannot drive yet or come from a country without a reciprocal agreement with Canadian driving authorities it will not be possible to learn to drive or sit any driving examinations for the time being.

OHIP

As it is Easter weekend I will not manage to go to a service Ontario until next week to apply for OHIP. Currently the three month waiting period has been removed so I should be able to obtain this as soon as the paperwork is processed. I will update once I have managed to do this.

What are you planning to share as a valid ‘proof of address’..??

 

[whyCorona]

You guys should land soon, weather is getting nice now.

hahah its snowing in Ottawa.

 

[SCOTCAD]

d

What are you planning to share as a valid ‘proof of address’..??

I asked the bank to provide me something with my new address on their letterhead which should do for now. The bank itself didn't require a proof of address.

 

[CanImmigrant_sa]

I asked the bank to provide me something with my new address on their letterhead which should do for now. The bank itself didn't require a proof of address.

Thanks. Thats helpful.

 

[Melchett]

...It was literally snowing half an hour ago in Windsor

It's a balmy 15C in Vancouver, and unseasonably sunny too.