Important Canadian Immigration Update - COVID-19

Writing to share some IMPORTANT news with you regarding recent announcements from the Government of Canada, regarding Immigration to Canada and COVID-19 and how they may affect your proposed Canadian Immigration plans.

I. INCREASED NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS UNDER EXPRESS ENTRY

On Thursday, March 12, 2020, The Honourable Marco E.L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), tabled the 2020 2022 Immigration Levels Plan in the Canadian House of Commons. Canada plans on welcoming 341,000 new permanent residents in 2020, 351,000 in 2021, and 361,000 in 2022 while reducing Application processing times and improving service delivery and client services at IRCC.

Of those who will become permanent residents of Canada over the next few years, in 2020, 88,500 to 100,000 immigrants will be Express Entry applicants; in 2021, 89,300 to 100,000 immigrants will be Express Entry applicants; and, in 2022, 88,800 to 100,600 immigrants will be Express Entry applicants. These numbers are even higher than those announced by Minister Mendicino's predecessor in October 2018 when projecting Immigration levels for the same three year period.

II. HOW DOES COVID-19 AFFECT IMMIGRATION PROCESSING?

IRCC Processing Will Continue Despite COVID-19

On Sunday, March 15, 2020, IRCC also released new instructions for those affected by COVID-19. Like other countries, Canada is working diligently to halt the spread of the virus; however, IRCC is adopting new policies and procedures to minimize any disruption to Immigration processing and to help applicants who are affected in any way by COVID-19. Among the steps being taken by IRCC are:

• All applications currently in progress at IRCC offices both in Canada and abroad will continue to be processed. 
• If an Express Entry applicant has received an Invitation to Apply and is missing documents to complete his/her Application for Permanent Residence because of disruptions related to COVID-19, the Application can still be submitted along with a letter, explaining why the documents are missing. IRCC will hold the Application until further notice. 
• Once an Application for Permanent Residence has been filed, it will not be refused if an applicant is unable to comply with subsequent procedural steps/instructions because of COVID-19. 
• IRCC may continue to request any additional documents necessary for processing Immigration Applications. When additional documentation is required, however, Immigration officers will send a request letter allowing the applicant 90 days to respond. If a previous request for additional documents was sent, but the applicant could not meet the deadline, applicants will be given an additional 90 days to respond. 
• Applicants will have 90 days rather than 30 days to provide biometrics. 
• Those who hold confirmation of permanent residence and permanent residence visas may be eligible for an extended deadline, as long as they inform IRCC of their situation via IRCC's web form.

III. WHAT DO THESE CHANGES MEAN FOR YOU?

Given the information, above, now would be an excellent time for you to enter the Express Entry Pool of Candidates (if you have not already done so) with my assistance, so that you can be one of the first applicants to benefit from possible lower CRS drawing scores and an increased number of Express Entry candidates invited to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada.

IV. HOW IS COVID-19 AFFECTING THE CANADIAN ECONOMY?

The following excerpts are taken from an article that appeared in the April 2, 2020 issue of the Toronto Star newspaper:

Canadian economists are cautiously optimistic about the country’s ability to make a quick recovery once the worst of the pandemic is over.

“It’s very likely to be a very significant rebound,” said Jean-Fran?ois Perrault, senior vice-president and chief economist at Scotiabank. In fact, last week Scotia pegged the chances of resuming normal economic activity by August at 75 percent. Assuming the virus can be sufficiently contained at some point this summer and businesses are able to reopen, it should not take long for the economy to rev up, Perrault said. With pent-up consumer demand and low-interest rates, he said conditions should be ripe for a quick turnaround, likening it to flipping a switch. “Once we turn the corner there’s potential for quite strong growth.”

If this scenario occurs it would be what economists call a “V-shaped” recovery, in which a sharp, sudden downturn is quickly followed by an equally sharp correction.

“We’ve had a huge shock,” said Jack Carr, an economics professor at the University of Toronto. “It’s bad that it’s huge, but the good news is that it’s short-run and as soon as the shock ends there’s no reason why we can’t almost immediately go back to where we were.”

Carr believes the Canadian economy is poised to “snap back” once the virus is under control.

“Maybe, if we’re lucky, it will only hurt the economy for two or three months and that’s it.”

At some point, the COVID-19 pandemic will end. Your country might not be one of the fortunate ones to fully recover, affecting your future and that of your loved ones. Canada is poised not only to recover from COVID-19 but to see a surge in its economy. While you are in self-isolation or if you are just considering life after COVID-19, now marks an excellent time to proceed with your proposed Canadian Immigration plans so that you can be one of the first ones to apply for a brighter and more prosperous future in Canada!