When Taryn Whitehead recently needed blood tests, the B.C. resident had to pay for them herself, twice, spending $600 in total.

And every time Whitehead香蕉视频直播檚 doctor renews her prescription for anti-anxiety medication, the Aldergrove woman has to pay a fee.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e had to up my dose of my anxiety medication because of all the [stuff] that香蕉视频直播檚 going on,香蕉视频直播� a frustrated Whitehead told Black Press.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just worried that something could happen and I have to go to hospital,香蕉视频直播� explained the native of South Africa.

She香蕉视频直播檚 also been unable to get a drivers香蕉视频直播� licence.

Whitehead said it香蕉视频直播檚 because the federal government shut down in-person permanent resident (PR) applications due to COVID, without creating an alternative.

As a result, Whitehead has been unable to undergo a required interview that would allow her to get a new permanent resident card, which she could then use as ID to obtain medical coverage and a driving licence.

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A notice on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) web page advised any PR applicants already living in Canada that all in-person 香蕉视频直播渓anding appointments香蕉视频直播� at offices in Canada have been cancelled until further notice, and warned applications may take 香蕉视频直播渓onger than usual香蕉视频直播� to process.

Whitehead has been waiting since January of 2020.

She had an in-person appointment, but it was cancelled.

香蕉视频直播淭hey won香蕉视频直播檛 say when they will open the office,香蕉视频直播� Whitehead said.

She had permanent resident status before, when she was living in Canada from 2000 to 2004, but it expired after she and her family, Canadian-born husband John and their three children, moved to South Africa.

The couple and two of their children returned to Canada just in time for the pandemic to hit, shuttering the IRCC offices.

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Abbotsford South Liberal MLA Bruce Banman and Langley-Aldergrove Conservative MP Tako van Popta have both made submissions on her behalf to the immigration authorities, to no avail.

香蕉视频直播淒espite a worldwide pandemic over the last 17 months, communities and governments figured out how to continue supporting their citizens,香蕉视频直播� van Popta remarked.

香蕉视频直播淭he fact that all this time later, the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship hasn香蕉视频直播檛 figured out how to serve permanent residents in Canada is appalling. Ms. Whitehead香蕉视频直播檚 story is only one of many where people legally entitled to be in Canada cannot get medical coverage, drivers香蕉视频直播� licences or any Canadian identification. How much longer is it going to take for this government to figure it out?香蕉视频直播�

The latest word, a July 30 email from IRCC, was that there were no plans at present to reopen the offices.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e seriously tried everything,香蕉视频直播� Whitehead said.

香蕉视频直播淚 just can香蕉视频直播檛 win with them. I can legally work here, I pay my taxes, I香蕉视频直播檝e got a SIN number, I香蕉视频直播檝e got a medical number 香蕉视频直播� but it香蕉视频直播檚 not activated, because I don香蕉视频直播檛 have ID.香蕉视频直播�

Whitehead is also unable to leave Canada for fear she won香蕉视频直播檛 be allowed to return, which is why she couldn香蕉视频直播檛 be present when one of her children was married.

香蕉视频直播淚 had to miss my daughters wedding in South Africa because I can香蕉视频直播檛 get in without it [a PR card].香蕉视频直播�

Langley Advance Times has reached out to IRCC for comment.