Canada Immigration News

Canada has opened a new pathway to permanent residency for Ukrainians here on temporary resident visas with family connections.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, launched on Feb. 24 last year, rages on and so Canada has stepped up its game to welcome Ukrainians fleeing the violence in their homeland.

“As we continue to witness the devastating impact of Putin’s illegal invasion, we stand resolute in our condemnation of this senseless violence,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser in announcing the new pathway earlier this year.

“We continue to extend unwavering support and a lifeline to families separated by this conflict, including through this family reunification pathway that will help Ukrainian families stay together as they rebuild their lives in their new communities in Canada.

“This continued support builds on our steadfast commitment to help Ukrainians find a safe haven and provide them with the assistance they need.”

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With the launch of the new pathway on Monday, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also released more details of exactly how it works.

Ukrainian foreign nationals in Canada and their family members can apply for permanent residence can apply for permanent residence under the new pathway even if their family members live outside of Canada.

“Permanent resident visas will be issued to family members living outside of Canada,” notes the IRCC on its website. “If you meet the eligibility criteria of the public policy, you can apply for permanent residence.”

Once Canadian immigration officials receive the application, they check that the applicants have submitted all the required information and meet the eligibility criteria.

“If we confirm you’re eligible, we’ll: invite you and your family members to complete

medical exams, if required; criminal and security checks

biometrics, if required, (and); tell you our decision once we’ve processed your application,” notes the IRCC.

Qualifying relatives of Ukrainians already in Canada include:

• spouses and common-law partners;
• children (regardless of age);
• grandchildren;
• parents;
• grandparents, and;
• sibling (or half-sibling).

Canada Has Welcomed 185,753 Ukrainians Under CUAET

Only weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces invaded the Ukraine in February last year, Canada responded by opening its arms to Ukrainians and putting in place the Canada-Ukraine Authorizations for Emergency Travel (CUAET) pathway.

The CUAET pathway was meant to allow those fleeing Putin’s war in the Ukraine to stay in Canada for up to three years and make them eligible for free open work and study permits.

It went into effect March 17, 2022.

By Sept. 30 this year, the most recent date for which data is available, Canadian immigration had received 1,189,372 applications under CUAET and approved 909,464. Canada had by then welcomed 185,753 Ukrainians under CUAET.

Canada’s move to offer permanent residency to Ukrainians flies in the face of the advice by international relations experts who have cautioned it could send the wrong message to Ukrainians fighting for their freedom back in the Ukraine.

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“We want to, generally, encourage the eight to 11 million people that fled to go back and rebuild,” Ihor Michalchyshyn, chief executive officer of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, reportedly told the Canadian Press.

Earlier this year, Michal McGill Institute for the Study of Canada director Daniel Béland reportedly told the news agency that any move by Ottawa to offer Ukrainians permanent residency should be closely co-ordinated with the Ukrainian government.

In diplomatic circles, a premature offer of permanent residency to Ukrainians could be seen as a sign that Ottawa is less-than-optimistic about Ukraine’s chances of winning this war and beat back Russian forces.

“This is something that certainly should involve a discussion with the Ukrainian government,” Béland reportedly said. “At the same time, we don’t know how long this conflict will be. It’s unlikely to end any time soon.”

As it implemented the CUAET pathway, Ottawa upped its immigration application processing capacity in Europe and also sent mobile biometrics kits to Warsaw, Vienna and Bucharest to take the fingerprints and portrait photos of prospective Ukrainian refugees.

The government also increased its federal settlement programs to include language training, orientation, employment assistance and other supports for Ukrainians as they settle into their new communities.

Ukrainians Coming To Canada Under CUAET Given $3,000 Per Adult And $1,500 Per Child

In addition to settlement services, Ukrainians fleeing to Canada were also offered transitional financial assistance of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child.

“These funds will help Ukrainian nationals and their family members meet their basic needs, such as transportation and longer-term housing, as they arrive in communities across Canada and find a job,” noted IRCC on its website.

“Settlement services will remain available to Ukrainians and their family members after they arrive so that they can fully participate in Canadian communities while they are here. Ukrainians and their family members will also continue to benefit from the one-time transitional financial support, as well as from access to emergency accommodations for up to two weeks, if needed, after they arrive in Canada.”

Among the other immigration measures announced since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war for Ukrainians are:

• a dedicated service channel for Ukraine enquiries that is available for clients both in Canada and abroad at 613-321-4243, with collect calls accepted. In addition, clients can add the keyword “Ukraine2022” to the IRCC Web form with their enquiry and their e-mail is then prioritized;
• urgent processing of travel documents, including issuing single-journey travel documents for immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who do not have valid passports;
• an updated web page to provide current information on measures. This page includes content in Ukrainian for ease of reference;
• permission for Ukrainians currently in Canada to extend their stay or stay longer in Canada by prioritizing the renewal of work and study permits, and extending a policy that allows individuals to apply for a work permit from within Canada. This policy allows temporary residents who receive a job offer to remain in Canada and start working while they wait for their work permit application to be processed, and;
• the issuance of open work permits to Ukrainian visitors, workers and students who are currently in Canada and cannot go home, so they can stay longer if they wish. Fees are being waived, retroactive to Feb. 22 last year, for certain travel and immigration documents, such as Canadian passports, permanent resident travel documents, proofs of citizenship, visitor visas, and work and study permits.

Ever since Ottawa axed the educational requirements of the Canadian work experience stream of the permanent residence pathway designed for Hong Kongers, they are applying in record numbers.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) removed the educational requirements on Aug. 15.

Since then, Hong Kong applications under the special permanent residency scheme have jumped by 70 per cent to 805 in August compared to 473 in July, reports the Hong Kong-based daily newspaper.

“In recognizing the extraordinary skills and potential of Hong Kong’s talented individuals, Canada has taken a significant step toward fostering inclusivity and embracing the spirit of opportunity,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser earlier this year.

“Removing the education requirement under Stream B is a win-win situation: it means that we can welcome more Hong Kongers to Canada who need our support, while simultaneously helping Canadian businesses fill labour gaps with workers who already have work experience here.”

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In the wake of the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong by the Chinese government, Canada created two new pathways to permanent residence on June 1, 2021.

Those two pathways include a Stream A, for in-Canada graduates, and a Stream B for individuals with Canadian work experience.

“Our government recognizes that true talent and valuable expertise are not solely defined by formal education credentials,” said Paul Chiang, the parliamentary secretary to Canada’s minister of housing and diversity and inclusion.

“By removing the education requirement under the Work Experience Stream B for the Hong Kong permanent residence pathway, we are ensuring that qualifications do not become a barrier to those who possess valuable experience and expertise. This change sends a powerful message of welcome and encouragement, reinforcing our commitment to building a diverse and prosperous nation.”

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In 2021, there were 4,290 Hongkongers who applied for permanent residency through the special work-to-emigrate route and almost 2,000 of them have since been approved, reports the South China Morning Post.

The IRCC’s decision to drop the educational requirements allowed 29-year-old Connie Chan to apply in August despite it having been more than five years since she had graduated. She had been lobbying Ottawa for years through a group she created to have the educational requirement amended to allow older graduates to apply.

She thinks about 300 of the applications in August came from members of her group and she expects the number of applications will continue to climb as more Hong Kongers realize they meet the new requirements.

Removing Educational Requirements Is Boosting Canadian Diversity, Says Miao

In the Greater Vancouver community of Richmond, known for its high concentration of Hong Kong immigrants, Richmond Centre MP Wilson Miao predicted earlier this year that the loosening of the requirements of the Stream B pathway would grow Canada’s social diversity.

“This will drive economic growth and foster cultural diversity,” said Miao. “Together, Hong Kong and Canada, are fueling our economy, creating new opportunities, and a hope for strengthened bonds.”

Those words have since proven to be prophetic as Hong Kong immigration has spiked.

Ottawa’s latest measure to help Hong Kongers jives with its Indo-Pacific Strategy, a plan to deepen Canadian engagement in the Indo-Pacific over the next decade.

The latest move also comes on the heels of other measures taken by Ottawa to encourage immigration from Hong Kong.

In early February two years ago, Canada’s immigration department launched a new open work permit to allow eligible Hong Kong residents to gain valuable work experience in Canada and apply for permanent residence more quickly.

This year, that measure was extended and expanded, giving Hong Kong residents until Feb. 7, 2025 to apply.

“Canada needs more people for economic reasons … and for demographic reasons,” said Fraser. “The reality is that we cannot meet the needs for the market with the existing labour force.”

To be granted permanent residence, applicants must intend to live in any Canadian province or territory other than Quebec. Hong Kong residents who are living in Quebec are advised to consult the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) to learn more about immigration pathways available to them in that province.

Open Work Permits For Hong Kongers Gives Canadian Employers Access To A Skilled Workforce

With the extension of the open work permit program earlier this year, the immigration minister said Canada was both showing its support for the people of Hong Kong and helping itself to a skilled workforce.

“By extending and expanding Canada’s open work permits for Hong Kongers, we are giving Canadian employers more skilled workers to hire at a time when we need them most and providing valuable work experience, all while also showing our support for the people of Hong Kong,” said Fraser.

That policy allows spouses or common-law partners and dependent children to also apply for a study permit or work permit.

Dr. Anna Victoria Wong, executive director of Community Family Services of Ontario, called the extension of the program a win for Canadian employers looking for skilled workers.

“As a social service agency, we understand intimately the needs of incoming and growing populations,” said Wong. “As a publicly funded provider, we are mindful of the challenges in our local economic and employment sectors.

“We strive to capitalize on the efficient use of resources to align needs from both sides to create a win-win situation for newcomers and for Canada. This policy update serves just that and imports talents that are ready, willing, and able to contribute to the Canadian economy and are supportive of the core values within our charter.”

Candidates hoping to apply for the In-Canada Graduates stream, Stream A, must:

• hold a valid passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China or the United Kingdom to a British National (Overseas) as a person born, naturalized or registered in Hong Kong;
• be physically present in Canada when they apply and get permanent residence;
• have valid temporary resident status in Canada;
• intend to live in Canada, in any province or territory other than the province of Quebec;
• have graduated from a post-secondary designated learning institution in Canada in the three years prior to their application with either a diploma (not graduate or post-graduate) for a program of at least two years, a degree (associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral), or a graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate for a program of at least one year and with at least 50 per cent of the program completed in Canada (either in person or online).

Those who have a graduate or post-graduate diploma or certificate must also have completed a post-secondary diploma or degree as a prerequisite to this graduate or post-graduate program within five years prior to the start of their graduate or post-graduate program.

Newcomers are facing trouble succeeding in the Canada job market despite what is being called the country’s most strategic response to aligning labour market needs with economic migration.

A report by Employment and Social Development Canada says that university-educated immigrants were overrepresented in low- and medium-skill sectors, and under-represented in high-skilled employment.

The Globe and Mail’s Andrew Seale writes that newer immigration measures risk repeating some of those previous patterns if adjustments are not made in both education and in employer and cultural attitudes to newcomers.

Muraly Srinarayanathas, who is the co-founder and chairman of Computek College (a private career college in southern Ontario offering training in higher-skilled areas like business, technology, and healthcare to newcomers and second- and third-generation immigration), asserts that Canada has long perceived immigration through the lens of the refugee experience, wherein they are in a state of desperation, survival, and struggle.

“There are also a lot of immigrants that come highly skilled, [with] foreign credentialing, and I don’t think Canada serves those different communities in the right way,” she says.

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“It’s a real missed opportunity.”

This is despite talent shortages causing more Canadian businesses to look at newcomers as a badly needed source of labour.

“Right now, about half of newcomers to Canada are economic migrants,” says executive director of Future Skills Centre Pedro Barata. “The target is 60 per cent by 2025.”

In fact, Ottawa – through its redesigned Express Entry program launched in May – is planning to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025.

Despite this constituting as a divergence from Canada’s historically “elite approach” to economic migration requiring university education, language skills, and other conditions, negative perceptions of immigrants have enabled their exploitation at the hands of employers.

For example, a 2023 University of Alberta research paper asserts that they are paid lower-than-market wages and worse working conditions than Canadian-born workers.

“Although skilled immigrants are highly qualified, professionally trained and economically motivated, they face individual-level challenges after arriving in Canada that restrain them from successfully integrating into the labour market,” says the paper.

Canada In Desperate Need

Solving issues related to education access are more solvable than changing societal attitudes, but carry their own pitfalls.

Mr. Srinarayanathas says that for some skills, like nursing, newcomers can begin the application process from their home country and then write their exam in Canada to acquire the requisite credentials or designations.

Despite there being pathways such as the Labour Market Impact Assessment process, most of the hospitals or healthcare institutions are hiring immigrants as nurses’ aides so that they get the hours they need for their permanent residency.

When they are working, they are not supposed to be studying under the LMIA process. However, studying is requisite to prep for the nursing exam to acquire a PR.

His point is that although there are certain pathways, they are very complex. This is counterintuitive, because if Canada has a desperate need of labour, it should be a very smooth process.

Out-of-Canada work experience recognition is also vital, as many newcomers are overlooked despite their long-term Labour market presence simply because said presence was outside the country.

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Removing the Canadian work experience requirement enables newcomers to land jobs that fit their credentials.

Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) became the first professional organization to remove this requirement, enabling newcomers with engineering backgrounds to land engineering jobs.

“By the time you get to writing the test, you can show that you already have a running start, which is actually really important in accelerating integration,” says Barata.

“It’s a great test case that we could probably translate into other occupations.”

According to him, Canada would be unable to remain competitive or maintain its quality of life, tax base, and productivity in both the long and short term unless it relies on immigration. It therefore becomes vital to help integrate newcomers into the Canadian economy as soon as possible.