ARCHIVED – Operational Bulletin 201 – April 16, 2010
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
Guidelines for individuals affected by the April 14, 2010 volcano
This Operational Bulletin has expired.
Issue
Guidelines in response to the April 14, 2010 eruption.
Background
On April 14, 2010, a volcanic eruption in Iceland resulted in numerous air travel disruptions. As a result, individuals may find themselves in situations where their status within Canada has expired. To assist travelers, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is reminding officers to utilize their discretion for individuals whose status may have expired due to circumstances beyond their control.
Current policy and procedures
As per Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (R182), should a visitor, worker or student have lost their status, they may apply to reinstate or restore their status. This regulation only applies if the temporary resident has not been out of status for more than 90 days, and they have not failed to comply with the specified conditions. Restoration of status cannot be granted at the Port of Entry. Individuals who have failed to comply with the conditions imposed under R185 need to apply in Canada for restoration of their status. If they leave Canada, they will be deemed to be seeking a new entry on their return.
The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act provides sufficient discretion to officers to respond in a flexible and humane manner to emergency situations. This event is neither a special program nor is it considered priority processing. Consequently, fee exemptions will not be implemented for this situation. It remains the client’s responsibility to demonstrate that they are negatively affected by the situation.
Contact
In the event that individuals require further clarification, they can contact the CIC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only, from 7 am to 7 pm Eastern time Monday through Friday).