New humanitarian route from Central and South America launched
The Department of Immigration has formed requirements for the stream.
In October, Canada announced a desire to accept 15,000 immigrants from the Western Hemisphere through the Family Humanitarian Pathway, in addition to existing programs. On November 17, Marc Miller announced the start of applications through an online portal on the IRCC website.
Who is this program for?
The stream is for Colombian, Haitian and Venezuelan nationals who are in Mexico, Central or South America or the Caribbean.
To qualify for the program, the primary applicant 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 the applicant and their family members as an anchor for one year.
"Anchor" requirements
You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident 18 years of age or older to be able to act as an inviting party. You must also meet certain requirements:
- not be subject to a removal order;
- not to be detained;
- not having been convicted in Canada for murder or outside of Canada for a similar offense;
- not to default on any sponsorship commitments;
- not default on any debt mentioned in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;
- not to be bankrupt;
- not receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability;
- not to accept any financial compensation from the foreign national and accompanying family members.
The host country is obliged to meet the newcomers, help them settle in, help them find accommodation, register with government services and apply for benefits. In addition, they should make sure that the newcomers find a doctor, a school for children and language courses.
What awaits immigrants upon arrival?
New arrivals are eligible for an employment skills assessment and referral to an organization that provides settlement services in their area. They may also be eligible to receive transitional financial assistance under the Resettlement Assistance Program and all settlement services under the Settlement Program.
What's in store for Canada?
The Canadian side motivates the opening of this immigration route by the desire to deal with the problem of increasing illegal migration through Central America. This is now leading to increased smuggling of migrants, physical insecurity and exploitation of those who cross the region.
In addition, Canada will invest CA$ 75 million over six years in projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. These funds will be used to better integrate migrants and refugees into local communities and labor markets.
