With over a year into the grip of a global pandemic, and no
clear ending in site, immigration applicants to Canada are facing
delays due to general closures and other COVID-19 related issues.
It is certainly difficult to gather all necessary documents in
support of a candidate's application if the institutions and
public offices who would normally be issuing them are closed until
further notice. Equally frustrating are irregular operating
schedules and in some cases, full closures of consular services and
VAC offices, which make it impossible to send a passport for visa
stamping, or submit biometric information, and thus complete
application processing.
The problem is particularly stark in India, where the recent
drastic increase in COVID-19 cases has forced the Canadian High
Commission to announce the closure of all but most urgent consular
services on May 3. Consequently, VFS centres closed for regular
services indefinitely. This echoes similar measures last year,
