Maple News reports that despite the gradual loosening of Canada’s pandemic-related travel restrictions, thousands of approved permanent residents—like the Abdeali family from India—remain in limbo, unable to take their final step toward Canadian immigration.
Zainab Abdeali, a schoolteacher, and her husband had uprooted their lives in preparation for their new chapter in Canada. After being granted their Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) during the pandemic, they sold their belongings, closed their business, and withdrew their children from school. But before they could travel, their documents expired—through no fault of their own.
Due to travel restrictions that began in March 2020, individuals approved for permanent residency after March 18, 2020, were excluded from entering Canada until June 21, 2021, unless they qualified for specific exemptions. Most, like the Abdealis, did not. As a result, their COPRs expired before they could complete the ‘landing’ process required to finalize their immigration.
“We’ve gone through everything—background checks, medicals, all validations. Now we are just waiting again,” said Zainab Abdeali, who began her immigration process in 2018. “We have done our part. Why is there still a delay?”
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has opted not to offer a blanket extension for expired COPRs. Instead, it is reviewing each case individually—a process that has contributed to prolonged uncertainty for many future Canadians. IRCC states this approach is meant to minimize issues at the border and ensure valid travel documentation.
As part of their temporary measures, IRCC paused the issuance of COPRs for 90 days starting in March 2021 to avoid further expirations. While the department has not disclosed exactly how many post-March 18 COPR holders are currently affected, internal data verification is ongoing.
The current guidance from IRCC is for expired COPR holders to wait for official communication. When contacted, individuals will be asked if they still wish to immigrate. They must then respond within a 10-day window and, if required, submit updated medical exams and travel documents. Only after this process will new documents be issued.
For now, many approved immigrants are caught in a time-consuming bureaucratic loop—approved on paper, but indefinitely delayed in practice. As Canada ramps up its immigration targets to fuel post-pandemic recovery, affected families and individuals hope that more streamlined solutions will follow soon.
Maple News will continue to monitor developments as they emerge.