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 WhiteheadB次元官网网址檚 doctor renews her prescription for anti-anxiety medication, the Aldergrove woman has to pay a fee.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had to up my dose of my anxiety medication because of all the [stuff] thatB次元官网网址檚 going on,B次元官网网址� a frustrated Whitehead told Black Press.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just worried that something could happen and I have to go to hospital,B次元官网网址� explained the native of South Africa.

SheB次元官网网址檚 also been unable to get a driversB次元官网网址� licence.

Whitehead said itB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址渓anding appointmentsB次元官网网址� at offices in Canada have been cancelled until further notice, and warned applications may take B次元官网网址渓onger than usualB次元官网网址� to process.

Whitehead has been waiting since January of 2020.

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

B次元官网网址淭hey wonB次元官网网址檛 say when they will open the office,B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淒espite a worldwide pandemic over the last 17 months, communities and governments figured out how to continue supporting their citizens,B次元官网网址� van Popta remarked.

B次元官网网址淭he fact that all this time later, the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship hasnB次元官网网址檛 figured out how to serve permanent residents in Canada is appalling. Ms. WhiteheadB次元官网网址檚 story is only one of many where people legally entitled to be in Canada cannot get medical coverage, driversB次元官网网址� licences or any Canadian identification. How much longer is it going to take for this government to figure it out?B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e seriously tried everything,B次元官网网址� Whitehead said.

B次元官网网址淚 just canB次元官网网址檛 win with them. I can legally work here, I pay my taxes, IB次元官网网址檝e got a SIN number, IB次元官网网址檝e got a medical number B次元官网网址� but itB次元官网网址檚 not activated, because I donB次元官网网址檛 have ID.B次元官网网址�

Whitehead is also unable to leave Canada for fear she wonB次元官网网址檛 be allowed to return, which is why she couldnB次元官网网址檛 be present when one of her children was married.

B次元官网网址淚 had to miss my daughters wedding in South Africa because I canB次元官网网址檛 get in without it [a PR card].B次元官网网址�

Langley Advance Times has reached out to IRCC for comment.