IRCC Announces New Pilot for Family Members and New Measures to Protect Newcomers

Everyone who has applied to immigrate to Canada is familiar with the declaration form wherein an applicant should declare accompanying and non-accompanying family members. Undeclared family members will not be able to come through a family reunification program.

Section 117(9)(d) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations imposes a lifetime sponsorship ban on family members who were not declared at the time of the principal applicant’s immigration to Canada. This ban has been considered a significant barrier to family reunification in Canada by the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR).

Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen, said the federal government recognizes the impediment caused by the regulation. He recently announced, “Newcomers who failed to declare immediate family members as they first came to Canada were barred to sponsor them. Today, we right that wrong.”

For two years, starting on September 9, 2019, IRCC’s new pilot will allow sponsorship applications for some family members who were previously banned from obtaining permanent residence under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

Under the pilot, sponsors have been defined as resettled refugees, those conferred refugee protection in Canada or those who were themselves sponsored as a spouse, partner or dependent child. Applicants have been defined as the non-accompanying family members who were not declared and therefore were not examined by immigration authorities when the sponsor applied for Canadian permanent residence.

On May 31st, IRCC has also unveiled new measures for vulnerable workers and family members.

“No worker should fear losing their job when they are being mistreated in their place of work. No partner should be more fearful of losing their immigration status instead of escaping abuse,” Hussen said.

1. Migrant workers with an employer-specific work permit who are in an abusive job situation will now be allowed to apply for an open work permit starting June 4.
2. Newcomers experiencing family violence will now be allowed to apply for a fee-exempt temporary resident permit starting July 26.
3. IRCC will expedite applications for permanent residence filed on humanitarian and compassionate grounds from those in urgent situations of family violence.

The permits will give these individuals legal status in Canada and provide them with a work permit that will allow them to continue or find work to help them get back on their feet without worries and fears.

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Disclaimer: Pinoy-Canada.com is not in any way connected with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) nor are immigration consultants by profession or agency any information or news shared on this site are gathered from updates from various resources.