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害羞草研究所檚 doctor renews her prescription for anti-anxiety medication, the Aldergrove woman has to pay a fee.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e had to up my dose of my anxiety medication because of all the [stuff] that害羞草研究所檚 going on,害羞草研究所� a frustrated Whitehead told Black Press.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just worried that something could happen and I have to go to hospital,害羞草研究所� explained the native of South Africa.

She害羞草研究所檚 also been unable to get a drivers害羞草研究所� licence.

Whitehead said it害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渓anding appointments害羞草研究所� at offices in Canada have been cancelled until further notice, and warned applications may take 害羞草研究所渓onger than usual害羞草研究所� to process.

Whitehead has been waiting since January of 2020.

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

害羞草研究所淭hey won害羞草研究所檛 say when they will open the office,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淒espite a worldwide pandemic over the last 17 months, communities and governments figured out how to continue supporting their citizens,害羞草研究所� van Popta remarked.

害羞草研究所淭he fact that all this time later, the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship hasn害羞草研究所檛 figured out how to serve permanent residents in Canada is appalling. Ms. Whitehead害羞草研究所檚 story is only one of many where people legally entitled to be in Canada cannot get medical coverage, drivers害羞草研究所� licences or any Canadian identification. How much longer is it going to take for this government to figure it out?害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e seriously tried everything,害羞草研究所� Whitehead said.

害羞草研究所淚 just can害羞草研究所檛 win with them. I can legally work here, I pay my taxes, I害羞草研究所檝e got a SIN number, I害羞草研究所檝e got a medical number 害羞草研究所� but it害羞草研究所檚 not activated, because I don害羞草研究所檛 have ID.害羞草研究所�

Whitehead is also unable to leave Canada for fear she won害羞草研究所檛 be allowed to return, which is why she couldn害羞草研究所檛 be present when one of her children was married.

害羞草研究所淚 had to miss my daughters wedding in South Africa because I can害羞草研究所檛 get in without it [a PR card].害羞草研究所�

Langley Advance Times has reached out to IRCC for comment.