2012

Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Pilot Program

Colin R. Singer
May 16, 2021

Operational Bulletin 436 – July 03, 2012

Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Pilot Program

Issue

This Operational Bulletin (OB) instructs officers on the changes associated with the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program. These changes pertain to aspects like:

The launch of the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program and,
The implementation of the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program

It also instructs all the officers involved in activities like:

The intake of a refugee claim or,
The removal of a foreign national from Canada

The officers typically tasked with carrying out these responsibilities include officers that are:

Border Services Officers (BSOs) and,
Inland Enforcement Officers (IEOs) in the Greater Toronto Area Region (GTAR)

The Details Associated with the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) Pilot Program

The Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program has two specific objectives. These include:

Providing a clear framework for failed refugee claimants to leave Canada voluntarily within a shorter timeframe and,
Alleviating the pressure on the Canada Border Service Agency’s (CBSA’s) regular removals program by working with an independent service partner for facilitating low-risk removals

This would also facilitate the reallocation of resources to:

Cases involving removals with greater degrees of complexity and,
Cases that are higher in the priority order

The Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program would provide various services. Eligible program participants could avail of these services and facilities. These facilities would typically include services associated with:

Travel
Pre and post departure counselling and,
Reintegration assistance delivered in kind

However, the authorities would only extend these services in one scenario. That scenario involves the condition that the eligible program participants return to their countries of origin.

In addition, the Inland Enforcement Officers (IEOs) are responsible for conducting various activities related to a removal at present. Going forward, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) would bear the responsibility for conducting these activities. These activities would typically include things like:

The scheduling of a departure date
The securing of a travel document and,
The confirming of a departure date

However, this scenario would only apply to low-risk referred cases.

The Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program is only available to Failed Refugee claimants. These claimants must:

Belong to the region defined as the Greater Toronto Area Region (GTAR) in ENF 34
Remain compliant and,
Present a low risk to Canada

The Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program would have two administrative bodies. These would include:

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and,
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM)

In addition, the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program would be in effect from June 29, 2012 to March 31, 2015.

Background

All Inland Enforcement Officers (IEOs) would need to review ENF 34

This is especially applicable to all Inland Enforcement Officers (IEOs) in the Greater Toronto Area Region (GTAR)
They would need to review ENF 34 for obtaining a detailed outline of the policy and program procedures concerning the removal of a foreign national from Canada under the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program

The introduction of the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program has resulted in changes to:

The Airline Liability (ENF 11) and,
The Confirmation of Departure (ENF 15)

These changes would be applicable for those individuals currently enrolled in the program

The authorities are also introducing additional changes to PP1 at refugee intake

Henceforth, officers belonging to the following departments, would need to provide all foreign nationals with a notification:

The Border Services Officers (BSOs)
The Inland Enforcement Officers (IEOs) and.
The Immigration Officers within the Greater Toronto Area Region (GTAR)

These officers would need to carry out the following activities for all foreign nationals, who have made a claim for refugee protection at a Port of Entry or Inland Office about:

Notify the foreign nationals about the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program and,
Provide the foreign nationals with the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program brochure