Trudeau: Canada looking to ease travel for families Canada's prime minister has said the country is exploring easing restrictions currently preventing some close family members from entering Canada through the U.S. border. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that Canada is exploring easing travel restrictions that currently prevent some individuals from crossing the U.S. border to enter Canada to reunite with their family. By Kareem El-Assal
How CBSA determines “essential travel” revealed in internal memo With the U.S.-Canada border closed to non-essential travel, CBSA officers use in-house guidelines to determine if now is the right time for a foreign national to come to Canada. Border officers are on the frontlines enforcing Canada’s travel restrictions, but the particulars of how they determine “essential travel” for specific situations have not been made available to the public. By Shelby Thevenot
Staying in Canada with your spouse The Open Work Permit Pilot allows spouses and common-law partners to work in Canada while their sponsorship application is being processed. Spouses and common-law partners of Canadians who are applying for permanent residence have the option to stay in Canada legally with an open work permit. By Shelby Thevenot
Tips to cross the Canada-U.S. border for immigration U.S. citizens, and foreign nationals in the U.S. are able to immigrate to Canada even during the pandemic, however, in order to cross the border they must prove that the reason for their travel is essential. U.S. citizens and foreign nationals in the U.S. have options to immigrate to Canada even during the coronavirus pandemic. By Shelby Thevenot
Canada’s immigration minister shares coronavirus updates Marco Mendicino participated in a Q&A session this morning discussing how the coronavirus pandemic will affect Canada's immigration system in the coming months and years. Marco Mendicino shared several updates this morning on how the coronavirus will impact Canada’s immigration system in the near future. By Kareem El-Assal
Canada refines definition of “essential travel” during coronavirus Even foreigners who are exempt from coronavirus travel restrictions have to demonstrate they are coming to Canada for an essential reason With travel restrictions still in place, Canada has clarified what types of trips are considered “essential” in order to gauge which travellers should be let into the country. By Shelby Thevenot
Canada and U.S. agree to keep border closed until May 20 Extension of cross-border travel restrictions to limit spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) After reaching a mutual deal to close their borders a month ago, Canada and the U.S. are now extending the closure another 30 days, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Saturday. By Mohanad Moetaz
Sponsoring common-law partners to Canada during coronavirus Near, far, wherever you are— Canadians can still sponsor common-law partners for permanent residence Canada’s travel restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus do not extend to immediate family members, including common-law partners. By Shelby Thevenot
Coronavirus: Latest update on Canada’s special immigration measures A summary of major Canadian immigration developments over the past three weeks The Canadian government has made sweeping changes affecting travel and immigration services during the coronavirus pandemic. By Shelby Thevenot
