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 Whitehead91裸聊视频檚 doctor renews her prescription for anti-anxiety medication, the Aldergrove woman has to pay a fee.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e had to up my dose of my anxiety medication because of all the [stuff] that91裸聊视频檚 going on,91裸聊视频� a frustrated Whitehead told Black Press.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 just worried that something could happen and I have to go to hospital,91裸聊视频� explained the native of South Africa.

She91裸聊视频檚 also been unable to get a drivers91裸聊视频� licence.

Whitehead said it91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渓anding appointments91裸聊视频� at offices in Canada have been cancelled until further notice, and warned applications may take 91裸聊视频渓onger than usual91裸聊视频� to process.

Whitehead has been waiting since January of 2020.

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

91裸聊视频淭hey won91裸聊视频檛 say when they will open the office,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淒espite a worldwide pandemic over the last 17 months, communities and governments figured out how to continue supporting their citizens,91裸聊视频� van Popta remarked.

91裸聊视频淭he fact that all this time later, the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship hasn91裸聊视频檛 figured out how to serve permanent residents in Canada is appalling. Ms. Whitehead91裸聊视频檚 story is only one of many where people legally entitled to be in Canada cannot get medical coverage, drivers91裸聊视频� licences or any Canadian identification. How much longer is it going to take for this government to figure it out?91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e seriously tried everything,91裸聊视频� Whitehead said.

91裸聊视频淚 just can91裸聊视频檛 win with them. I can legally work here, I pay my taxes, I91裸聊视频檝e got a SIN number, I91裸聊视频檝e got a medical number 91裸聊视频� but it91裸聊视频檚 not activated, because I don91裸聊视频檛 have ID.91裸聊视频�

Whitehead is also unable to leave Canada for fear she won91裸聊视频檛 be allowed to return, which is why she couldn91裸聊视频檛 be present when one of her children was married.

91裸聊视频淚 had to miss my daughters wedding in South Africa because I can91裸聊视频檛 get in without it [a PR card].91裸聊视频�

Langley Advance Times has reached out to IRCC for comment.