COVID-19 Impact on Travel

  These are extraordinary and unparalleled times. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 ‎‎("COVID-19") has thrown the world into an ‎unprecedented pandemic which has ‎jeopardized the health and livelihood of individuals and businesses ‎alike. The federal ‎government has implemented various emergency measures to combat the pandemic ‎including, among other things, closing the Canada-US border to all "non-essential" travel ‎‎(recently extended to May 20, 2020), declaring travel requirements (e.g., all air ‎passengers must now use non-medical masks or face coverings during travel) and ‎issuing  

  Canada moved to dramatically restrict entry to try and stop the spread of a virus that has killed many thousands of people worldwide. The latest information confirms Canada-U.S. port of entry border restrictions will remain in place until June 30, 2020.
Entry restrictions are certain to limit planned immigration levels in the short term, meaning Ottawa is unlikely to reach its target of 341,000 new permanent residents in 2020. However, even within the restrictions there remains a clear nod to the importance of both permanent and temporary immigrants to Canada, with exemptions put in place by Ottawa. 

  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is evaluating how this health risk develops before deciding on a strategy for continued Express Entry draws during the COVID-19 era. Once Express Entry draws resume at the federal level, Comprehensive Ranking Scores (CRS) will increase significantly, before falling back after initial draws.
An official global travel advisory and pandemic COVID-19 travel health notice are in effect: avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice.  

  The Canadian food supply relies on the return of trained foreign workers particularly from Jamaica and Mexico, during the spring planting season. Canada is prioritizing work permit applications in the following 10 occupations: 

1. NOC 6331: Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers: retail and wholesale.
2. NOC 7511: Transport truck drivers.
3. NOC 8252: Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers.
4. NOC 8431: General farm workers.
5. NOC 8432: Nursery and greenhouse workers.
6. NOC 8611: Harvesting labourers.
7. NOC 9462: Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers.
8. NOC 9463: Fish and seafood plant workers.
9. NOC 9617: Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing.
10. NOC 9618: Labourers in fish and seafood processing.

  Federal and provincial governments have kicked into action to help citizens and permanent residents who were employed and impacted by the COVID-19 response.  

Measures include the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), providing $2,000 per months to workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19. Employment Insurance is also available to those who have lost their job through no fault of their own. Furthermore, the Canada Child Benefit has been increased, the income tax filing deadline delayed and banks have committed to helping those with mortgages, with many offering payment deferrals of up to six months. 

 Small businesses also have government backing, with an unprecedented 75 per cent wage subsidy for qualifying businesses for up to three months, retroactive to March 15. The move is designed to help businesses keep and return workers to the payroll instead of laying them off.  

  Permanent residents must meet ongoing physical presence requirements of residing in Canada for two years in every five years. Those who cannot return to Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic period will be required to show compelling circumstances preventing compliance during the entire five-year period.  

Temporary residents unable to depart Foreign nationals who are in Canada with temporary resident status that may soon expire must apply for an extension of status. They must continue to meet all requirements and pay the required processing fees to access services. Those who have already applied for an extension of status will benefit from implied status and may remain in Canada until a decision is made in their application.  Where temporary residence status has expired, foreign nationals may apply for a restoration of status where conditions are met.