New travel exemption for immediate family member not being honoured or implemented by OUTCAN visa offices

[CDNsoldier]

First of all Congrats @CDNsoldier on some success. Gives us all a ray of hope.
I am pretty much in the same boat applied for my parents TRV who are currently in the States got stuck at the biometrics stage. They had a TRV before but expired since their passports got expired and had to get a new passport. I emailed the travel exemption email since I am a Canadian Citizen and that would exempt them of the travel restrictions. The problem here is unless they give their biometrics their application is on a stand still. Do you think they can some how bypass the biometrics or do them at the port of entry. Stuck in a pickle.

Thx. If your parents are in the states, they don’t need TRV. Even if they are in the states on a visa they still don’t need TRV for the duration of theirs USA visitors visa.

A TRV Bio should be good for 10 years. It’s probably bcs they got a new passport. I doubt there is any bypass. They need the bio to positively identify the applicant then process as a prospect and make decision. I don’t think they can make decision without bio first.

 

[confused_aj]

I have just received a very generic and unclear response for my enquiry. It is frustrating because it provides the same info on the website which is clearly says an immediate family member is eligible. Can anyone else read the response and let me know if any other conclusion can be read from it.

Thank you for contacting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Coronavirus - Travel restrictions to Canada

The Government of Canada is closely monitoring the new coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on IRCC clients.

Until further notice, most people cannot travel to Canada, even if they have a valid visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA).

You can travel to Canada or be permitted to enter Canada if you are:

• An eligible immediate family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident,
• A foreign national who is coming for an essential (non-discretionary) purpose from the United States (U.S.),
• A foreign national who is coming for an essential (non-discretionary) purpose from a country other than the U.S., and are exempt from the travel restrictions,
• Etc.

In any case, if you're travelling by air:

• You need to pass a health check conducted by airlines before you're allowed to board your flight,
• Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada by air.

When you arrive in Canada by air, land or sea, we'll assess your health before you leave the port of entry. You must have a plan to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada. This is mandatory, even if you have no symptoms. If you don't have a plan, you should not travel to Canada as you may not be allowed to enter the country.

We understand that these measures will affect several IRCC clients. Please be assured that we continue to closely monitor the situation and provide you with the most current information as the situation evolves.

For more information on the situation and to receive up-to-date information, we invite you to consult the How the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is affecting immigration, refugees, citizenship and passport services page, where you will also find answers to your most common questions about travel restrictions and exemptions.

Furthermore, the Government of Canada is closely monitoring the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and any impacts on IRCC clients.


Until further notice, most people can't travel to Canada,even if they have a valid visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA). Foreign nationals, including United States (U.S.) citizens, can travel to Canada only if they are eligible.

So we can keep processing applications from people who are able to travel to Canada, we're temporarily changing how you can apply to visit, work or study in Canada.

In order to see how you can apply, please visit our website.

For more information on the situation and to receive up-to-date information, we invite you to consult our website.

We hope the information provided is helpful in assisting you with your enquiry.

We would also like to suggest the following online services that might be helpful to you with any immigration, refugee and/or citizenship future requests:

• Download application forms and guides
• Change of address
• Check your application status
• Help Centre - To find answers, you may consult the different sections or type keywords related to your question.

 

[Saim Karim]

I have just received a very generic and unclear response for my enquiry. It is frustrating because it provides the same info on the website which is clearly says an immediate family member is eligible. Can anyone else read the response and let me know if any other conclusion can be read from it.

Did you get this reply after you raised a webform??

 

[confused_aj]

Did you get this reply after you raised a webform??

Yup, I sent the webform enquiry on 18th June and received the response today. I think the call centre team didn't even bother to read my message.

 

[confused_aj]

So I contacted the embassy here (Australia) and asked them whether there is an exemption for immediate family members and the team responded with:

As of 8 June 2020, immediate family members* of a person who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who can demonstrate the intent to stay in Canada for at least 15 days will no longer have to demonstrate that the purpose of their travel is non-optional. However, they will still need to meet health-related and other admissibility requirements. Those who cannot demonstrate that they intend to stay for at least 15 days will have to demonstrate that the purpose of their travel is non-optional. In all cases, the traveller must still possess the required travel documents for entry into Canada. To find out what documentation you require to enter Canada please consult the IRCC website.

It seems either there is no coordination between the different visa officers or someone simply didn't go through our application. I sent a follow up question to confirm our application can be processed.

 

[Saim Karim]

So I contacted the embassy here (Australia) and asked them whether there is an exemption for immediate family members and the team responded with:



It seems either there is no coordination between the different visa officers or someone simply didn't go through our application. I sent a follow up question to confirm our application can be processed.

This is blindness..
Why aren't they even acknowledging the fact that we have proved eligibility?! If not the original application, it must be extremely clear in the webform!
Baffling!

 

[Paul09]

@CDNsoldier
I'm so delighted that you have received the positive response from ircc. I'm in the same boat like others applied for sponsorship in Dec 2019 and have received sponsorship approval and medical passed for main applicant. I have also tried my luck for trv and received the following message on my spouse gckey account :

Date: June 23, 2020 UCI: xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Email: xxxxx

Dear xxxxxx,

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 nondiscretionary, 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 nondiscretionary, your application will now be put on hold until after the travel restriction pause has been lifted. Thank you for your interest in visiting Canada.

Sincerely,
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada


I have followed all the instructions to select purpose of travel as others and covid-19 in the description. Can you please advise me on the next step I can take to show these idiots that I am a Canadian citizen and asking for visitor visa for my spouse.

I really appreciate your input.

 

[Saim Karim]

@CDNsoldier
I'm so delighted that you have received the positive response from ircc. I'm in the same boat like others applied for sponsorship in Dec 2019 and have received sponsorship approval and medical passed for main applicant. I have also tried my luck for trv and received the following message on my spouse gckey account :

Date: June 23, 2020 UCI: xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Email: xxxxx

Dear xxxxxx,

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 nondiscretionary, 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 nondiscretionary, your application will now be put on hold until after the travel restriction pause has been lifted. Thank you for your interest in visiting Canada.

Sincerely,
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada


I have followed all the instructions to select purpose of travel as others and covid-19 in the description. Can you please advise me on the next step I can take to show these idiots that I am a Canadian citizen and asking for visitor visa for my spouse.
I
I really appreciate your input.

I got the exact letter! And it drives me up the wall!
Raised a webform!

 

[Dude29]

I got the exact letter! And it drives me up the wall!
Raised a webform!

Sorry, few questions for you guys.

-- Did you write COVID-19 all in upper case letters under the description?
-- Did you specify how long your spouse is planning to stay in Canada?
-- Did you submit any flight info/quote showing that your spouse is going to be staying more than 15 days?
-- Did you guys mention in your invitation letter that you read on IRCC's website that immediate family members are exempt?
-- Did you guys got your invitation and proof of financial support letter notarized?
-- Did you submit a quarantine plan?

Thanks.

 

[Paul09]

I got the exact letter! And it drives me up the wall!
Raised a webform!

Any updates from the webform

 

[Saim Karim]

Sorry, few questions for you guys.

-- Did you write COVID-19 all in upper case letters under the description?
-- Did you specify how long your spouse is planning to stay in Canada?
-- Did you submit any flight info/quote showing that your spouse is going to be staying more than 15 days?
-- Did you guys mention in your invitation letter that you read on IRCC's website that immediate family members are exempt?
-- Did you guys got your invitation and proof of financial support letter notarized?
-- Did you submit a quarantine plan?

Thanks.

Any updates from the webform

Nothing significant! Just that they are forwarding the attached documents to the concerned visa office.
However, there is one more person in this forum who did the same..and they sent him a generic email back explaining rules of exemption

 

[RG_Ind]

Following is a part from the latest Covid-19 information page(Here is the link) for permanent Resident as of today. I don't see nothing new added there. In this section they are saying our immediate family members allowed to come to canada. Then there is close which catched my eye that I marked in red saying Your immediate family member may also need a visitor visa or eTA to travel to Canada. Which completely cover their side and indirectly saying we allowed you to come, but you still needs to meet all the TRV guidelines and so we reject as usual. Please correct me if am reading it wrong!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are my immediate family members allowed to come to Canada?
Because you’re a landed permanent resident, your immediate family members are eligible to travel to Canada.

There are different rules, depending on how long they plan to stay.

• If they’re staying for at least 15 days, they can come.
• If they’re staying for less than 15 days, they must be travelling for an essentialFootnote1(non discretionary) purpose.

They must be able to provide evidence that

• they’re an immediate family member
• they’ll be staying in Canada for at least 15 days or that they’re coming for an essential (non-discretionary) purpose

Your immediate family member may also need a visitor visa or eTA to travel to Canada. Find out how they can come to Canada.

Everyone who comes to Canada must quarantine for 14 days when they arrive, even if they have no symptoms. Any foreign national, including U.S. citizen, showing signs of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada.

 

[Keets45]

Following is a part from the latest Covid-19 information page(Here is the link) for permanent Resident as of today. I don't see nothing new added there. In this section they are saying our immediate family members allowed to come to canada. Then there is close which catched my eye that I marked in red saying Your immediate family member may also need a visitor visa or eTA to travel to Canada. Which completely cover their side and indirectly saying we allowed you to come, but you still needs to meet all the TRV guidelines and so we reject as usual. Please correct me if am reading it wrong!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are my immediate family members allowed to come to Canada?
Because you’re a landed permanent resident, your immediate family members are eligible to travel to Canada.

There are different rules, depending on how long they plan to stay.

• If they’re staying for at least 15 days, they can come.
• If they’re staying for less than 15 days, they must be travelling for an essentialFootnote1(non discretionary) purpose.

They must be able to provide evidence that

• they’re an immediate family member
• they’ll be staying in Canada for at least 15 days or that they’re coming for an essential (non-discretionary) purpose

Your immediate family member may also need a visitor visa or eTA to travel to Canada. Find out how they can come to Canada.

Everyone who comes to Canada must quarantine for 14 days when they arrive, even if they have no symptoms. Any foreign national, including U.S. citizen, showing signs of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada.

This is ridiculous. Almost everybody is getting the same refusal email from CIC(as if they have set an automatic reply) . I strongly doubt if they are even reading through our documents. If they do not want to approve visas and do not have any intention of family reunification why do they (CIC, IRCC, CBSA) have to go out to social media sites and do all the fake announcements? Why do they have to do all of this in first place wasting our time, money, energy and playing with our emotions!!! The system is screwed big time. This is daylight robbery.

 

[Paul09]

Nothing significant! Just that they are forwarding the attached documents to the concerned visa office.
However, there is one more person in this forum who did the same..and they sent him a generic email back explaining rules of exemption

I just submitted a webform along with documents that sent with the application as well. Let's see what they will do. Also, I believe by the time they will look into this it will be already passed June 30th.

 

[Tahsinxp]

Hi All,

Does everyone get a biometrics request for TRV by default irrespective of the decision on the application?