RS_OS

My husband and I got our permanent residency visas back in September and our move date is set for 10th June.

Just weeks before Covid-19 decided to storm the world, we sold our house, moved in to short term rental and both finished work so we could spend a few months with friends and family before we left. Obviously the spending time with friends and family hasn't happened and we've gone back and forth debating whether to postpone our move out.

Our flight from London is still scheduled and as we are permanent residents, we will be allowed in to Canada as long as we self isolate for 14 days. Yes delaying would (potentially) mean we get to hug friends and family before we go but again, nobody knows when this would be and the longer we stay in the UK, the more of our savings we'll use as the longer we'll both be out of work.

Has anyone else made the move during these crazy times & have any tips/advice especially for the strict 14 day quarantine? As we'll be newbies to the area, we won't have the support network we do here for things like food deliveries so trying to find out as much information as possible!

Former Lancastrian

Actually you are nor Permanent Residents yet you just have the visa and COPR forms.

If your application was approved on or before March 18, 2020, but you haven’t travelled to Canada yet, you’re exempt from the travel restriction measures.Temporary foreign workers, some international students and approved permanent residents who haven’t yet landed are now able to enter Canada.

If you’re travelling by air, you need to pass a health check conducted by airlines before you’re allowed to board your flight. Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada by air.

When you arrive in Canada, we’ll assess your health before you leave the port of entry. You must have a plan to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive in Canada. This is mandatory, even if you have no symptoms. If you don’t have a plan, you should not travel to Canada.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...pproved-before

RS_OS

Thanks for the reply. We activated our visas back in September when we travelled out to Canada for a few weeks, then returned to UK to settle everything so we have our PR cards.

Former Lancastrian

That would have been nice to know in your original post

Hurlabrick

As regards food delivery, depends where (how remote) you will be quarantined. But most towns have grocery stores with internet ordering and delivery. Also loads of 'take out' meals delivered to the door via Uber Eats, Doordash or Skip the Dishes.

Sure it's a PITA, but we have been doing pretty much this since early March!

Siouxie

Do you have accommodation arranged? The restrictions in place could make things a little difficult if you don't... you will also need to arrange transportation from the airport to your place of residence. You won't be permitted to go to a vehicle rental company etc., - the quarantine regulations mean you have to go directly to where you will stay in place, no going to a shop or anywhere else. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-heal...ion-sheet.html

Did you make arrangements for your dog? Would you be able to leave it in the UK until you are out of quarantine and are settled, perhaps? If you don't have arrangements in place to quarantine the Govt may send you to a designated place of safety - and it could be a place where you can't have a pet... a hotel, for instance.

In all honesty If it's possible for you to delay your return to Canada I would do so. Don't forget you will be out of work here too - not able to go for job interviews and without any financial assistance and unable to go and view properties to rent / buy nor arrange furniture etc., - setting up a home will not be cheap and you would probably initially have to buy anything you needed by shopping online for delivery, possibly even after your enforced 14 days quarantine with the state of how things are at present.

scilly

I thought that people entering Canada from overseas without a clear plan of action have to go into Government arranged quarantine, usually a hotel near the airport of entry. They then have to stay in their room for the whole 14 days, with food delivered to the room. They have to have a plan arranged and approved before leaving the hotel.

If they can arrange transport and accommodation before the 14 days are over, they will, or may, be allowed to leave early.

That, at least, is the situation in Vancouver, which is the main entry point for entry from around the Pacific as well as US visitors.. Is it not so in Toronto??

RS_OS

This sounds the same as Toronto , you have to present an isolation plan to immigration which states you have somewhere suitable to stay and access to basics like food/medication. If they're not happy with it, you will be sent to government arranged accommodation.

RS_OS

We're in the process of trying to find a long term rental with the help of a friend already over there, surprisingly they are still doing viewings on (most) properties. Our plan is/was to stay in an Airbnb for the first few weeks so it's fully kitted out certainly for our initial self isolation period. Thinking of staying more central to Toronto though for this so we have easier access to food deliveries etc.

We had been told that as long as we are not displaying symptoms and wear a face covering we'd be allowed to go to the car rental location for transport but I'll definitely have a look in to this as this would certainly cause us problems if not!

A family member was originally going to bring the dog out a few weeks after but as they won't be able to do that now, we've contacted a few pet travel companies who are still able to fly him (at the minute) so we'd have to use one of them.

Only essential shops are open in UK presently - is that the same in Ontario does anyone know? We read that places like Ikea is re-opening for curb side pick ups in Ontario but don't exactly trust everything we're reading at the moment!

Hurlabrick

In Ontario now, drug stores are open (all of the store, not just the drugs counter). Grocery stores are open. LCBO (liquor store) is ooen as are Beers Stores. A couple of days ago, home reno stores are now open (incl. The ubiquitous Canadian Tire). Garages and car washes open. Public transport still running. Garden Centres now open. Restaurants allowing take away and drive throughs and home delivery. Dont know about Ikea, but internet orders with drive up pick up is common and was used for home reno stores until they re-opened a couple of days ago.

Hurlabrick

Just spotted this today as Ontario eases the lockdown:

"All retail stores with street entrances can re-open for kerbside pickup or delivery today"

https://london.ctvnews.ca/all-retail...oday-1.4933600

OrangeMango

As far as I know all permanent residents are required to enter Canada within one single year of issuing the visa for the visa to stay valid. If the visa was issued in September last year, I'd try to postpone the move from the UK to Canada until September. Airlines seem to be rather flexible these days with rebookings.

The 14 day quarantine is haunting and agonizing for anybody and I am surprised it doesn't get more coverage here. In a new country in a property which is not your own residence, loads of new things to do in the new country, but held back in doing so..... Be warned, this will feel like a 14 day prison sentence to you with a bit of a higher comfort than a prison cell.

Maybe things change in September. For instance they could easily omit the quarantine requirement if the country of origin has way fewer cases of Covid 19 than Canada. For passengers arriving from New Zealand, where there are currently no cases at all, the quarantine makes absolutely no sense at all. Also some countries which have quarantine requirements are offering tests. If these tests are negative, the quarantine is ended early. Canada could also offer that at some point. Things might change quickly here as well, or at least I am hopeful.

Quarantine is only a real solution if the country you're arriving from has significantly more cases than the country you're going to. Unfortunately politics and current legislation doesn't believe in this.

Twitcher1958

I agree with your points and hope the government would see it your way too! We will be returning from Austria next month - only 11 new cases yesterday and 3 deaths - but we recognize the risk is on our flight and transit through airports.
Vienna airport has recently started offering a virus check, which takes 2-3 hours and costs €190, as an alternative to quarantine. It would be great if Canada offered such an option but unfortunately I doubt it could be introduced in time to help us.

OrangeMango

Not only countries like Austria, but also Finland, Denmark, Germany, or even Greece seem to have the Covid 19 matter largely under control. There is no reason, not to offer quarantine free airline travel between these countries and Canada. Also Canada could introduce a mandatory app on the cell phone as well. There would be a lot of better choices other than the 14 day quarantine obligation for travellers arriving from countries with lower infection rates.

Airline travel is not as bad as you might think and you should not be too worried. The air quality and the air conditioning in airplanes are often of similar quality to the ones in operating theaters in hospitals, plus the air is very very dry in planes.

Twitcher1958

We’re not particularly concerned about the trip, taking necessary precautions, but thanks for your reassurance. My point was more aimed at the Canadian authorities and their reluctance to accept your points, meaning we are likely to be subject to the quarantine restrictions.