Its comforting to know that atleast we are in the same boat! But it is so frustrating! I applied on 17th as well..the instructions clearly say our spouses should be exempt! Do you have an idea why this is happening??
New travel exemption for immediate family member not being honoured or implemented by OUTCAN visa offices
- Thread starter CDNsoldier
- Start date
Hi, what documents did you use as proof for the exemption? Just wanted to make sure!
I have no idea. I initially thought maybe they didn't read all my documents and they assumed the visit is for less than 15 days but after checking the application, I can see it asks for the visit duration and I set it for 6 months. I also provided a very detailed letter of explanation (LOE) to explain our plan and travel purpose. Just to make sure, I have attached the same LOE to the webform enquiry.
three other potential reasons come to my mind:
Personally, I will just proceed with the biometrics as planned and just wait and see how it goes.
three other potential reasons come to my mind:
- maybe they expect a detailed quarantine plan as mentioned on the website. But I assumed this is only required when you on-board the flight or at the borders.
- I followed the instruction and set purpose of travel to "Others" and added "COVID-19" to the description as mentioned under "If you need to apply for a visitor visa" instructions on this page: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/apply-visit-work-student.html. This was required before for all travellers who had to have an essential travel purpose but maybe it is not applicable to immediate family now and adding those wordings directed the application to the wrong team or triggered an automated response.
- I read that the current restrictions are due to expire on 30 June so maybe the plan is to left them after that date and the VOs are just holding our applications until then.
I used marriage certificate + my PRTD as I'm currently outside Canada.
Personally, I will just proceed with the biometrics as planned and just wait and see how it goes.
I totally understand the frustration. Because we have totally gone "by the book"
Ill give you a background of what i did:
1)I put a detailed quarantine plan for 14 days in my invitation letter to my spouse
2) Did the same thing as yours - My wife put "COVID-19" . I believe you still have to put this as this hasn't changed even if the "exemption" rules have changed. The process described to apply for a TRV is still same using "COVID-19" even though the exemption rules have changed.
3) Attached official marriage certificate and my PR card copy as per their document rquirements
So i do not understand why i get this email since I have followed everything!
Are you the applicant or the PR/Canadian citizen? Do you also have a spousal sponsorship application in process?
In my case, I have a spousal sponsorship application in process as well.
Since you've included the quarantine plan, this eliminates my 1st guess. Good 
I'm the PR holder and I applied for my spouse. We don't have a sponsorship application in process. This makes our application a bit tricky and I was totally ready for a refusal letter but not this one.
I'm the PR holder and I applied for my spouse. We don't have a sponsorship application in process. This makes our application a bit tricky and I was totally ready for a refusal letter but not this one.
In my case, they didn't ask my wife for Biometrics as she has already given this as part of her spousal sponsorship application.
The point is still that- they have put our applications "on hold" even when we clearly qualify for the exemption as per the new rules.
Yeah, it is such a strange response. Let us wait and see. I will provide an update if I get a response for my enquiry.
I totally get it! If you don't mind me asking, I assume you have done your "soft landing" and went back to your home country since you need a "PRTD"? Which country are you applying from?Since you've included the quarantine plan, this eliminates my 1st guess. Good
I'm the PR holder and I applied for my spouse. We don't have a sponsorship application in process. This makes our application a bit tricky and I was totally ready for a refusal letter but not this one.
Yeah! Ill keep you updated as well on this forum! Anything helps!
By the way, since I am in Canada - i called IRCC today to inquire about this absurdity!
The agent started off saying that "you need an authorization" blah blah
I interjected and asked her to go to the page where the new rules are in place - made her read all of the rules including that we dont need an authorization as well as the matter of "essential/non-essential" travel is null and void as per the new rules! I.e. you can go to Canada if you are an immediate family member of a PR for "any reason"
When she read all of this. she said "I dont understand why they havent assessed your application as per the new rules" and advised me to put through a webform with all the screenshots.
Where i am getting at is - as per my conversation - the agents dont know about the changes in rules and are still assessing our applications as per "essential/non-essential" rules of travel.
Hence we got the letter putting our "applications on hold".
This is my understanding! LOL
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good news! This morning I got 3 emails from CIC asking (wife’s account) to login and read the letters.
The first letter was regarding the biometrics and how long it’s valid for. My wife did a bio last year for a TRV so no bio required. The letter is generic. So, if you get that biometrics info letter it’s a good sign that they are working on your application. Note: my wife is from Asia and I have been dealing with the VO in her country. After emailing my MP and CCing the CIC Minister, DPM and the VO Ambassador. It looks like her application was processed in Kingston Jamaica. The biometrics letter had kingston VO’s address at the bottom. The asshats in Asian VOs are fired! Lol
The second letter was for PPR and the third letter was the authorization letter to travel to Canada. Wife will be submitting her passport to her local VFS as soon as they open on Monday AM.
Keep sharing your stories and situations so others can be helped.
Happy days! Good luck to all my friends!
Good news! This morning I got 3 emails from CIC asking (wife’s account) to login and read the letters.
The first letter was regarding the biometrics and how long it’s valid for. My wife did a bio last year for a TRV so no bio required. The letter is generic. So, if you get that biometrics info letter it’s a good sign that they are working on your application. Note: my wife is from Asia and I have been dealing with the VO in her country. After emailing my MP and CCing the CIC Minister, DPM and the VO Ambassador. It looks like her application was processed in Kingston Jamaica. The biometrics letter had kingston VO’s address at the bottom. The asshats in Asian VOs are fired! Lol
The second letter was for PPR and the third letter was the authorization letter to travel to Canada. Wife will be submitting her passport to her local VFS as soon as they open on Monday AM.
Keep sharing your stories and situations so others can be helped.
Happy days! Good luck to all my friends!
Congratulations bro!
So the initial email you got? The one in which they said that you still don't meet the exemptions is wrng?
They messed up I guess??
Both emails I got said that my wife is not exempt. I had to escalate the situation through my MPs office. I think the asshats at the OUTCAN VOs are sleeping at the wheel.
Oh thats strange! Im sorry im pestering you with all this!
Just wanted to confirm :
Did you also get an email worded like this below?
"Based on our assessment of your recent enquiry, we cannot process your request as you have not provided sufficient evidence that you meet an exemption criterion and/or that your travel to Canada is non-discretionary, per the travel restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID 19) in Canada.
Even though you do not meet an exemption criterion and/or your travel has not been deemed non-discretionary, your application will now be put on hold until after the travel restriction pause has been lifted."
Yes I got the exact same letter verbatim. That is when I was livid and expressed my concerns to my MP’s office and CCed the minister and a bunch of other people.
Thanks man! Gives me a lot of hope! That means they messed up! Would you care sharing with me the emails of people you CC'ed?
Also this is what i provided:
1) Invite letter with 14 days quarantine plan
2) My PR card copy
3) Marriage certificate
Just wanted to run it by you to make sure i had put everything in order?