The 2021 floods in British Columbia have been some of the worst in recent years. Many people have lost their homes and all of their possessions. It caused significant damage and displacement for many residents. IRCC is committed to helping those affected by the floods.
On July 14, 2022, the government of Canada announced that officials are still processing applications from Canadian permanent and temporary residents who were directly affected by the 2021 floods in British Columbia. The special measures that were released on December 24, 2021, came to an end on May 31, 2022. These measures helped permanent and temporary residents of the province to extend or restore their status and replace the lost, damaged or inaccessible documents issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Special Measures for Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents and Temporary Residents
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is still processing applications of persons who suffered from floods in British Columbia (B.C.). Special measures have been put in place for Canadian citizens and protected persons, temporary residents and permanent residents of Canada directly affected by the emergency situation resulting from the floods in British Columbia (B.C.). IRCC is committed to helping those who have been affected by the floods and will continue to process applications as quickly as possible.
Canadian Citizens
Persons directly affected by this emergency situation are only eligible for these special measures, and it remains their responsibility to identify themselves. In order to identify themselves as "affected persons", applicants should provide the following information:
A signed letter (attestation) explaining how the floods affect them
A copy of their proof of residence in an affected area, such as a government-issued identity document or, a utility bill showing a residential address located in the affected area
Replacement citizenship certificates must be requested according to standard procedures, but the applicant shouldn't be charged the proof of citizenship application fee ($75). Clients who submit proof of citizenship applications online through IRCC Secure Account (MyAccount) are required to pay the application fee upfront. Under these special measures, officers are required to refund fees to clients if they determine that they are eligible for a replacement citizenship proof. In addition to passports, certificates of identity, and refugee travel documents, these special measures also apply to Canadian passports.
Permanent Residents
For permanent residents, these special measures apply only to replacement applications for lost, damaged, or destroyed PR cards for clients who had PR cards issued within the last five years. In order to request replacement PR cards, affected Canadian permanent residents must follow standard procedures, but the application fee ($50) should not be charged. However, new applications for PRs and renewals of existing PRs are not covered by these special measures. There are also standard fees and requirements.
In addition, permanent resident applicants under the age of 14 who were previously exempt from providing biometrics may have to do so when they apply for a replacement PR card. Therefore, it is not necessary for them to pay a fee for biometric collection. When replacing an immigration document, these instructions apply to those needing to replace:
record of landing (IMM 1000)
confirmation of permanent residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688)
Valid temporary resident document (work permit, study permit, or visitor record)
It is important to know that records of landing and confirmations of permanent residence cannot be reprinted. However, clients will receive a Verification of Status (VOS) document.
Temporary Residents
Temporary resident status can be extended or restored free of charge under the public policy if they had valid temporary resident status on November 15, 2021 or their status expires on or before May 31, 2022. The applicant is exempt from the requirement to seek restoration of status within 90 days if they lost their status during the emergency. In the case that an applicant did not have a valid status as of November 15, 2021, they must submit their application before the end of the 90-day restoration period.
It remains the responsibility of those directly affected by this emergency situation to identify themselves as such. These apply to visitors, workers and students. For visitors, workers and students to identify themselves as affected persons, they must provide:
A signed letter (attestation) explaining how the floods affect them
A copy of their proof of residence in an affected area, such as:
a government-issued identity document; or,
a utility bill showing a residential address located in the affected area
The government of Canada has been processing applications from Canadian permanent and temporary residents who were directly affected by the 2021 floods in British Columbia since December 24, 2021. The special measures that were released on December 24, 2021, came to an end on May 31, 2022.