Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) new family-based, humanitarian pathway for Sudanese and non-Sudanese nationals who were living in the Sudan when the conflict began on April 15 last year is now open, allowing them to reunite on a permanent basis with their families in Canada.
Applicants can be a child of any age, grandchild, parent, grandparent or sibling of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is living in Canada. That family member in Canada needs to agree to support the newcomers and help them build their new lives in Canada.
“We’ll accept up to 3,250 applications from people or families,” notes the IRCC on its website.
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The family member in Canada who agrees to support their Sudanese relative during their first year in Canada must:
- be 18 years old or more;
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
- live in Canada (but outside the province of Quebec), and;
- prove they have enough income or funds to meet the financial requirement.
These sponsoring relatives, called anchors under the program, must sign an official document, called a statutory declaration, stating they promise to:
- meet their relatives at the airport and get them to where they will be staying;
- help them find temporary housing;
- help them find permanent housing;
- make sure they have food, clothes and other basic needs;
- introduce them to life in Canada (for example, public transportation, banking, shopping, rights and responsibilities, etc.), and;
- help the newcomers translate information, open bank accounts, enrol in provincial and federal programs and benefits, find family doctors, dentists or eye care specialists and arrange any other medical needs, enrol children in school or childcare programs, enrol adults in language training, access support services to find a job and access service provider organizations for settlement services once in Canada.
“Anchors must also state that they won’t accept money or other payment from you in exchange for being your anchor,” notes the IRCC.
Under this program, Canadian immigration is waiving the Right of Permanent Residence Fee and biometric fees. The IRCC is also providing free settlement services and will help the newcomers integrate into Canadian society and get a job.
In October last year, Ottawa also extended temporary measures to help Sudanese nationals in Canada for another year by allowing them to continue to extend their stay or change their statuses as visitors, students or temporary workers free of charge.
Temporary Measures For Sudanese Remain In Effect
“We are extending these temporary special measures for foreign nationals who fled Sudan with their Canadian family members, including Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents, until Oct. 27, 2024,” tweeted the IRCC.
Fighting erupted in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital city and other sites across that country, in April last year as two rival military factions began their battle for control of the eastern African nation.
“Canada continues to call for an end to violence in Sudan and stands with the Sudanese people as they strive for peace,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser last year.
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“Many Sudanese nationals currently in Canada can’t return home due to the dangerous and volatile situation in their home country. That’s why we’re taking steps to help them extend their stay here, so they can remain with their families, continue with their studies or find work in safety.”
Under the temporary measures in place Sudanese nationals in Canada who left after the conflict began and entered Canada before July 15 last year can extend their temporary resident statuses or apply for other temporary resident documents.
“We’re prioritizing the processing of complete temporary and permanent residence applications from those living in Sudan,” notes the IRCC on its website. “If you have an application in progress, you don’t need to apply again.”
The IRCC is offering free open work permits that provide access to the labour market and greater flexibility for Sudanese nationals to support themselves while they are in Canada.
