ARCHIVED – Notice – Lac–Mégantic special assistance measures

July 26, 2013 – Lac-Mégantic special assistance measures: New measures in place to help those affected by the disaster include free replacement of passports and immigration documents and extension of immigration status.

Notice to affected residents

As a result of the tragic explosion and fire in Lac-Mégantic, passports and other documents belonging to Temporary Residents, Permanent Residents and Canadian citizens may have been lost, damaged or destroyed.

To support affected residents, the Minister approved special measures to waive some fees and other specific requirements for both temporary and permanent residents as well as Canadian citizens until October 5, 2013.

The following documents may be replaced at no cost:

• permanent resident cards,
• Canadian passports,
• work permits,
• study permits, and
• visitor records.

Procedures and contact information

To qualify for these special measures, the applicant must be able to demonstrate that they have been directly affected by the disaster. A government-issued identity document with a Lac-Mégantic residential address, postal code G6B, will be required for proof of residency. All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Affected Canadian Citizens

If your passport was lost, damaged or destroyed

If you are a Canadian citizen and your passport was lost, damaged or destroyed as a result of the explosion and fire, you will be provided with a free replacement. These special measures will be in effect until October 5, 2013. For passport-related questions, please call 1-800-567-6868.

If your citizenship status documents were lost, damaged or destroyed

If you are a Canadian citizen your citizenship status documents were lost, damaged or destroyed as a result of the explosion and fire, you are eligible for priority processing until October 5, 2013.

To replace your citizenship certificate, please:

• complete the Application for a Citizenship Certificate, and
• send it to the Case Processing Centre , Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Please write “URGENT: LAC-MÉGANTIC, QUEBEC” on the cover of the envelope.

Please note that CIC no longer issues the plastic wallet-sized citizenship cards.

For questions or further information, please contact CIC at 1-888-242-2100 (press 7). The agent will ask standard security questions and then advise you on how to proceed with an application. Or, please send an email to Lac-Mégantic@cic.gc.ca  - with “URGENT: LAC-MÉGANTIC, QUEBEC” in subject line – that includes your Unique Client ID (UCI# ), if known, and full name, date of birth, city and country of birth and an agent will be in contact with you.

Regular fees apply, but your request will be processed on a priority basis.

Affected Permanent Residents

If your immigration documents were lost, damaged or destroyed

If you are a permanent resident and your immigration documents were lost or damaged, please:

• complete an Application for a Permanent Resident Card, and
• send it to the Case Processing Centre , Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Please write “URGENT: LAC-MÉGANTIC, QUEBEC” on the cover of the envelope.

The application for the replacement card must be received between July 6, 2013, and October 5, 2013 inclusive.

For questions or further information, please contact CIC at 1-888-242-2100 (press 7). The agent will ask standard security questions and then advise on how to proceed with an application. Or, please send an email to Lac-Mégantic@cic.gc.ca  - with “URGENT: LAC-MÉGANTIC, QUEBEC” in the subject line -  that includes your Unique Client ID (UCI#),  if known, and full name, date of birth, city and country of birth and an agent will be in contact with you.

Your request will be processed on a priority basis and replacement fees will be waived.

Affected Temporary Residents

If you are a temporary resident in Lac-Mégantic who meets the following criteria, your temporary status will be automatically extended or restored until October 5, 2013:

• You had legal status on July 6, 2013, and your status will expire before October 5, 2013; or
• Your status as a visitor, student or worker expired and your restoration period falls between July 6, 2013 and October 5, 2013.

When completing an application, either by mail or online, the application form will indicate what supporting documentation you need to include or upload. If you are unable to include or upload a copy of supporting a document because it was lost or destroyed as a result of the disaster, please include a Letter of Explanation for each missing document. The letter, written by you, needs to state that the supporting document was destroyed or lost as a result of the disaster.

For questions or further information, please contact CIC at 1-888-242-2100 (press 7). The agent will ask standard security questions and then advise you on how to proceed with an application. Or, please send an email to Lac-Mégantic@cic.gc.ca - with “URGENT: LAC-MÉGANTIC, QUEBEC” in the subject line – that includes your Unique Client ID (UCI# ), if known, and full name, date of birth, city and country of birth and an agent will be in contact with you.

If your documents were lost, damaged or destroyed

If you are a temporary resident in Lac-Mégantic whose immigration status documents (work or study permit or visitor record) were lost, damaged or destroyed, please:

• complete a Verification of Status or Replacement of an Immigration Document, and
• send it to the Operations Support Centre (OSC) in Ottawa, Ontario.

Please write “URGENT: LAC-MÉGANTIC, QUEBEC” on the cover of the envelope.

The application for the replacement immigration documents must be received between July 6, 2013, and October 5, 2013.

You will be provided with a free replacement of documents and your request will be processed on a priority basis.

If your status is about to expire

If you are a temporary resident in Lac-Mégantic whose status is about to expire, your legal status in Canada will be automatically extended until October 5, 2013. If you need to extend your status beyond that point in time, please submit a regular application for extension to CIC, including supporting documentation.  Regular application fees will apply. For more information on extensions, please visit this site:  http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp.

For general questions about CIC programs and services, please visit our online Help Centre.

Features