Canada has launched a new humanitarian migration pathway for Colombians, Haitians and Venezuelans to help with the ongoing refugee crisis in the Americas. The Canadian government has announced the pathway is now open to allow 15,000 eligible Colombians, Haitians and Venezuelans who have family members in Canada.
This will provide an option for those displaced due to political, social and economic instability, but only a limited number of spots are available for potential refugees.
Who Is Eligible?
You must be a national of Colombia, Haiti, or Venezuela and be in Central or South America, the Caribbean or Mexico when submitting the application.
You must be a:
- Spouse or common-law partner of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who meets the requirements of an anchor, who was not granted permanent residence; or
- Child of any age, grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who meets the requirements of an anchor, who was not granted permanent residence.
You must also intend to reside in a province or territory other than the province of Quèbec. Because there is a maximum quota, those interested in applying under this program must do so before the spots are filled.
What Is an Anchor?
Your anchor is a sponsor, who agrees to be responsible for helping you get set up in Canada, and to provide support to you and your family members for one year to help you settle.
You must provide a statutory declaration from your anchor that confirms they will provide support to you and your accompanying family members for one year. They must not accept any financial compensation from you or your family members in return for this.
An anchor must not be subject to a removal order and meet other financial and security requirements.
Other Requirements
Police certificates for you and your family members over 18 years of age who aren’t permanent residents or Canadian citizens will be required for any country other than Canada in which you spent six or more months in a row since turning 18.
The IRCC will contact you with instructions about completing medical exams for you and your family after you submit your application. You and your family members over 14 years old may need to have fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) taken at a biometric collection service point.
How To Apply
The Government of Canada Guide 5991 – Permanent Residence Pathway for Colombian, Haitian and Venezuelan Nationals allows eligible applicants to apply.
If you are eligible and interested, you must apply online using the Permanent Residence IRCC portal. You will also need to provide a signed statutory declaration from your anchor confirming that they are willing to support you in Canada.
Representative
You can have a representative help you with your application.
If a paid representative is submitting your application online on your behalf, they must sign in to their Representative Portal account to do so. You need to electronically sign your application and your representative must provide their declaration before submitting the application.
If you don’t have a representative but want one to act on your behalf, you’ll need to submit a Use of a Representative form signed by you and the representative and upload it with your application.
Documentation
To ensure your application is considered complete, you need to fill out the required forms completely with all information, and submit them together on the Permanent Residence Online Application Portal for both you and your dependents. Incomplete applications are returned.
If you can’t provide any required documents from the checklist, you need to provide a written explanation for each missing document, and include any available evidence or documents to meet the requirement.
You will need to provide proof of your relationship to the anchor and other family information, passports and other travel documents, and photos. You can find a complete list of documentation requirements on the Government of Canada website.
Application
Submit your prepared application and ensure you answer all questions fully. Electronically sign the application with your full name exactly as it appears on your passport, and upload all supporting documents. Upon submission, you will receive an automatic email confirmation, which you should keep. The application will be reviewed to ensure completeness. Any missing documents may lead to your application being returned.
Once your complete application is submitted, you will receive an acknowledgment of receipt. This notification will include your IRCC office file number, basic instructions for communication with the processing office, and an outline of future processing steps.
Creating an online account and linking your application to it allows you to receive email updates and access a more detailed case status. Update the IRCC of any changes, including changes in contact information, withdrawal decisions, or family changes.
There is a limited quota under this program. Only 11,000 eligible refugees will be allowed into Canada under it, so it is critical to apply as soon as possible. Ensure your claim is submitted for consideration before the quota is filled.
Oro Immigration has extensive experience helping refugees and others come to Canada, and offers service in English and Spanish. We are dedicated to assisting our clients, and will be with you throughout the entire process. We can act as your representative to help you complete the application correctly, and guide you on requirements and eligibility, helping both applicants and anchors. Let us make a stressful application easier for you.
