Families left in months-long limbo as COVID-19 halts immigration applications

Thousands of Canadians and their families have been left in limbo since the COVID-19pandemic hit in March with no word from the federal government about when their family members' immigration applications will be processed, an immigration lawyer and familiessay.

Some applicants saidthe lack of communication from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has left them unable to work and caused months of stress.

CanadianCandice Vallantinapplied to sponsor her husband, Israel Seoane, a Spanish citizen,on March 5 after the couple moved to Vancouver earlier this year.

"We haven't heard anything since we mailed the application,"Vallantinsaid. "Four months of complete radio silence."

In usual times, applicants for family sponsorship would receive an acknowledgement that their application was received and a work permit within two to three months.

Seoane, who works in the film industry, is currently in Canada on a visitor visa. He's still waiting to receive a work permit so that he can look for a job now that filming is picking up again in British Columbia.

"What's the point for me to start doing networking or going to do a job interview when I'm not able to work," he said.

The couple is also worried that when it is finally processed, theapplication will be put on hold if it is incomplete.

"It's a big hurdle becauseif you don't complete the application properly, they'll send it back to you," Vallantinsaid.

Family sponsorship on hold

In an email to CBC News, an IRCC spokesperson saidthe department is still processing permanent resident applications, but thatmany visa application centres have been temporarily closed and this has affectedoperations.

"There are also many external factors that are beyond IRCC control, such as available transportation and ability to access documents," reads the email.

The department has said that applications missing documents due to COVID-19 won't be rejected, but it hasn't said if applications that are incomplete will keep their spot in the queue if they are sent back.

Vancouver immigration lawyer Steven Meurrens saidthousands, possibly tens of thousandsmore, are in the same position as Vallantin and Seoane. Last week, he received an email from IRCC saying that only applications submitted before Feb.12 were being processed.

"If not then, it's not being processed, and it's not actually even in the system."

IRCC saidit's prioritizing permanent residency applications for Canadians trying to return to Canada, vulnerable peopleand essential service workers.

Meurrens saidwhile no updates have been announced for family sponsorship applications so far, the federal government has been making new announcements on a nearly daily basis since the pandemic started.

He saidthe government has already made changes to allow those with existing work permits to simply email IRCC and get their permits renewed.

"I don't know why it's not the same thing where someone can email and show that they've applied for family sponsorship and get an email back within 10 days that says, 'Due to COVID-19 and exceptional measures, you can start working.'"

Thousands 'in the same boat'

Vallantin has been working full time throughout the pandemicbut saidthe uncertainty is a huge mental strain.

"As long as I can keep this job, we'll be fine," she said. "But it's really stressful not just from a financial perspective but from a mental health perspective."

She's part of Facebook and WhatsApp groups with families in similar situations.

"It's really the not knowing and the complete lack of communication and transparency, which is really stressing people out, and there are thousands of people in the same boat throughout Canada."

The couple wantSeoane to get a work permit as soon as possible. At the very least, they believe IRCC should let them know the status of their application.

"We shouldn't have to wait this long, and we shouldn't have to be facing this endless limbo to get our lives on track."

In the meantime, Vallantin saidshe's thinking about writing to her local MP for helpbut isn't optimistic that will help their situation or get them answers on their application.