Canada launches new PR pathway for Venezuela, Haiti, and Colombia
Canada has launched a new PR pathway for nationals from Colombia, Haiti, and Venezuela, as part of efforts to provide safer alternatives to irregular migration. Under the new dedicated family-based humanitarian pathway, Canada will welcome 15,000 people from the Western Hemisphere, in addition to existing immigration programs.
Who qualifies for the new dedicated humanitarian pathway?
If you migrate to Canada through this pathway and intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec, you will be eligible to apply for permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced that to qualify for the pathway, as the principal applicant, you must be a child (regardless of age), grandchild, spouse, common-law partner, parent, grandparent or sibling of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who agrees to support you and your family members as an anchor for one year.
Applications can be submitted using the online IRCC portal. You will need to provide a signed statutory declaration from your anchor confirming that they are willing to support you in Canada.
“We are determined to uphold our humanitarian tradition and support those in need,” said Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. “Providing safe, legal pathways for displaced people to start new lives in Canada not only delivers on that commitment, but also strengthens our country through the profound contributions newcomers make in their communities, including growing our economy and filling labour market gaps,” he added.
Those coming to Canada through this new humanitarian pathway will receive pre-arrival services, including an employment skills assessment and a referral to a settlement service provider organization in their community. They may also be eligible for transitional financial assistance from the Resettlement Assistance Program.
Prevention of irregular migration
As Canada launches a new PR pathway, it is also already welcoming people from the Americas by bringing in an additional 4,000 people through our country’s existing temporary worker programs, including the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. Canada is also leveraging its existing refugee labour mobility pathway, the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot.
These measures are meant to alleviate migration pressures in the Western Hemisphere. The new humanitarian pathway provides an alternative to irregular migration northbound through Central America for some of those who are displaced due to political, social and economic instability. IRCC will continue to monitor the progress of the pathway and adjust as required toward these goals.
Also read: Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026: Canada aims to slowly stabilize PR arrivals
In addition to this commitment, Canada is increasing its assistance for capacity-building efforts in the region by investing $75 million over six years for projects across Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen asylum capacity and better integrating migrants and refugees into local communities and labour markets.
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