Best time to apply for a Canada PR visa is now

As we mentioned in some of our previous blogs, immigration to Canada does not seem to be seriously affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. The Canadian government is determined to continue the immigration process despite COVID-19.  At the same time, the government is taking adequate precautions to protect its people.

Border closures:

Canada has implemented some border closure measures and restricted the entry of foreigners to the country except Canadian immigrants with PR visa, Canadian or US citizens and diplomats. This measure was implemented to reduce the spread of Coronavirus.

This is part of the measures to protect Canadian people from the spread of Coronavirus. Apart from this, Canada has introduced extensive screening measures for its people and advised them to avoid unessential travel outside Canada.

COVID-19 and the Canada immigration process:

The good news is that the Canadian visa process has not been really affected by the pandemic. The immigration authorities in Canada are trying to provide uninterrupted immigration services for those who are in the process of applying for a Canadian visa or intend to apply for one.

Applicants from high-risk countries like China, South Korea or Iran will be given extra time of 90 days to provide the supporting documents. However, the applicants will have to prove that they were unable to procure the documents due to restrictions in their country.

These documents can include:

• Passports
• Biometrics
• Police certificates
• Medical Certificates

The IRCC has extended the deadline for permanent visa applications by 90 days for those who are currently in the process of applying for their permanent resident visa. It will be a wise move to continue with your PR application process because the processing time takes about 6 to 8 months in normal times. So, if you stop your efforts to process the application now due to the present conditions, you will lose the opportunity to get a head start compared to other applicants who decide to apply once this crisis passes.

Temporary visa holders are also being given extra time to apply for an extension.

Best time to initiate the application process:

Since Canada remains unwavering in its commitment to invite 1 million immigrants by 2022 despite COVID-19, the best time to start your visa application process will be now. Here are some reasons why.

There has been a slight decrease in the number of applications due to the prevailing conditions and misinformation due to Coronavirus. This can act in your favor and increase the chances of your visa being approved sooner.

The logic is simple, Canadian immigration programs like the Express Entry rank candidates based on certain criteria and invite applicants who have the highest score. With lesser number of applicants now, you have a chance to be ranked among the top applicants and qualify for an invitation to apply or ITA. So, the sooner you start the application process, the better are your chances to receive an ITA for your PR visa. Make the best of the situation and make your Canada visa application now.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.