Canada opens its doors to students and families of residents

Canada has taken several major steps to help people who are afflicted by the Coronavirus pandemic. It has recently announced to relax travel restrictions on international students, family members, and individuals coming to Canada for some compassionate reasons. This was proclaimed by Canada’s Ministers of immigration, public safety, and health in a press conference held in Ottawa. The Immigration Minister of Canada, Marco Mendicino, has informed that the extended family members of Canadian permanent residents and citizens can travel to Canada from 8th October onwards. Further, international students who have taken admission to a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) of Canada will be allowed to enter the country from 20th October. However, the DLIs must have a full-fledged COVID-19 plan that has been approved by the particular province or territory. Designated learning institutions can be colleges, universities, and any other educational institutions that have been certified by the government to have an intake of international students. Also, Foreign nationals can fly to Canada on compassionate grounds. For example, attending a funeral and other such reasons. They can be exempted from travel restrictions based on sensitive reasons. However, it is obligatory that all travelers self-quarantine for fourteen days when they enter the country.

Extended Family Members

Canada has now allowed extended family members to travel to Canada. These include dependent children, siblings, adult children, grandparents, and individuals who are in long-term term relationships. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada will provide comprehensive information on 8th October on its website. Extended family members would be required to go through a firm visa process and they need to apply for authorization. They will be allowed to enter Canada only when their application is approved. Recently, Canada has expedited the processing of spousal sponsorship applications in order to reunite family members. Now, the IRCC will process around 6,000 applications every month.

International Students

Canada implemented travel restrictions between 18th March and 30th June. Since then, the travel ban has been extended every month due to the ongoing pandemic situation. During the imposition of travel restrictions, only those international students were allowed to come to Canada whose study permits were approved before 18th March. Canada has also exempted students from the travel restrictions who are coming from the U.S. International students who have registered in a program that demands in-class participation, for instance, workshops or labs.

Existing Travel restrictions in Canada

As of now, Canada has suspended non-essential travel until 31st October from all the foreign countries except the U.S. Travelers coming from the United States for non-essential purposes are not allowed to enter Canada until 21st October. Some people are free from the travel restriction as long as they are traveling for essential reasons such as for work or to reunite with their family members.

Canada continues to process immigration applications

Canada is regularly holding Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, and Quebec Arrima draws so that the newcomers can help in economic recovery once the pandemic is over. Canada is welcoming a large number of immigrants through the Express Entry. In the last three express entry draws, the IRCC issued a total of 12,600 invitations. British Columbia and Quebec also conducted their biggest draws of this year.

Immigration Levels Plan will be out soon

Marco Mendicino, the Immigration Minister of Canada, is going to release the three years Immigration Levels Plan by the end of this month. It is assumed that Canada will set higher immigration targets to attract a large number of skilled workers.