Permanent residents in limbo waiting to immigrate to Canada | CBC News

The 28-year-old computer programmer who lives in Bangalore, India, is one of about 23,000 aspiring immigrants with expired or soon-to-be expired documents waiting to enter Canada.

"It's really depressing for all of us," said Kovi, who plans to settle in Ottawa but can't travel because his confirmation of permanent residency (COPR) document expired in early June, prior to travel restrictions being lifted.  .

Late last month, the federal government lifted some COVID-19 restrictions, allowing anyone with a valid COPR to enter Canada, but that didn't help Kovi's case.

Despite having started the immigration process in 2018, Kovi says he's never struggled to get clear answers from the government until this point.

WATCH | Waiting to enter Canada:.

Their COPR documents also expired in June and there's been no word yet on when they'll be renewed.

Immigration lawyer Kyle Hyndman, in Vancouver, estimates more than half of those holding expired COPR documents are skilled workers who were chosen "to contribute to the Canadian labour market.".

Cohen says the pandemic has significantly impacted immigration processing times, and that the government will be contacting individuals with expired papers in the "weeks and months to come."