How Coronavirus is Transforming the Canadian Immigration Landscape

Advertisement

The Coronavirus pandemic is changing every sector and the immigration industry isn’t left behind. Many activities have been suspended until further notice as the economies of developed countries is plummeting. Canada is regarded as one of the countries with a high population of immigrants. Thousands of aspiring immigrants are now left with no other option than to shelve their relocation plans.

The Canadian economy is growing at a very fast pace and this has led to a labor shortage. Another factor that is contributing to the high demand for foreign workers such as healthcare workers is that the country has a low birth rate.

Advertisement

Many Canadians went home with paychecks that were slashed by half last month and over 5 million citizens are in dire need of emergency benefits.

Can immigrants enter through the Canadian borders?

The virus has already crossed the borders of almost every country and policymakers are trying their best to contain it.

Advertisement

Canada is taking proactive measures to create a lasting solution to the issues that are emerging as a result of coronavirus. For instance, each province provides economic aids and testing stations for residents.

Apart from that, people are screened at airports to detect carriers of COVID-19 because some patients are asymptomatic. Travelers will be in isolation for 14 days even if they test negative to ascertain their status.

In a bid to flatten the curve, Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau has announced a travel restriction that has been implemented since the 16th of March. However, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and diplomats are not affected.

Normally, the average processing time for the visa application can be up to 6-8 months. This temporary restriction is bound to slow down the processing time for visa applications. Nevertheless, interested applicants are free to apply for a visa.

Is it safe to apply for a Canadian visa?

The country recently experienced a sharp decline in the number of visa applications as a result of misconceptions fueled by fear that are flying around.

There is no need to wait until the pandemic is over before applying for a Canadian visa. Taking this step will even increase your chances of being approved earlier and obtaining an ITA (Invitation to Apply).

Permanent Residents Application

Permanent residents without any symptoms of COVID-19 will be allowed to enter Canada. If you were able to achieve the PR status before March 18th, 2020, the travel restriction won’t apply to you. Your immediate family members can only travel to Canada for essential reasons.

Be rest assured that your visa application won’t be rejected if you’re yet to include some documents because of COVID-19. Service Canada has put a hold on biometrics registration for now.

Canadian Citizenship Application

All the events that often accompany Canada citizenship have been canceled. All the same, individuals can still apply for citizenship as they have an additional 90 days to submit all the necessary documents. Canada remains one of the best countries where you can achieve your academic or career goals. You can also give your family a better life if that’s what you have in mind.

The good thing is that there will still be a need to invite immigrants into the country once the dust has settled. Nothing less than a million immigrants are expected to move to the country between 2018-2020 and the pandemic won’t alter this decision. There are speculations that a COVID-19 vaccine will be available globally within 12-18 months. Don’t allow the pandemic to dampen your spirits to the point of ditching your immigration plans.

It’s only a matter of time before we know the industries and companies that the pandemic will affect to a great extent. Truth be told, the country will need the strength of the skilled immigrant labor force to bounce back.

1 comment
  1. I’m delighted to have this opportunity, and ready to make my best inputs as regards to skills, to profit the country and my self thank you,.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like