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Canada will soon launch a two-year pilot program that will allow Canadian permanent residents to sponsor non-accompanying family members who were not declared at the time of applying for permanent residence in Canada. Though the new pilot primarily focuses the refugees, vulnerable migrants, or those who were themselves sponsored as a spouse, partner or dependent child, can also apply for sponsorship under the new pilot program. The pilot will run from September 9, 2019, to September 9, 2021. Those applications which are already in process will also benefit.
Under Section 117(9)(d) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, the non-accompanying family members who were not declared by the sponsor while submitting the Canada PR application, are not eligible for a Family Class Sponsorship. Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) has termed the provision as a “a significant barrier” to family reunification in Canada. It further pointed out that 117(9)(d) had a disproportionately negative effect on refugees and vulnerable migrants who failed to disclose a family member.
On a brief issued on the topic, the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) said although R.117(9)(d) affects all categories of immigrants, it has a disproportionately negative effect on refugees and vulnerable migrants who fail to disclose a family member. “Their reasons for doing so include fear of endangering the family member, gender-based oppression, lack of information, and unexpected life events. The regime set out in R.117(9)(d) is overbroad, excessive, and inflicts devastating harm on vulnerable people, especially children. “
Announcing the new pilot, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen said “Newcomers who failed to declare immediate family members as they first came to Canada were barred to sponsor them. Today, we right that wrong.”
Canada is a country that gives the highest priority to family reunification. So when you move to Canada, you need not leave your family behind! Contact us to know how you can sponsor your family members for permanent residence in Canada.
