Syed Khan – December 05, 2021
Hundreds of Afghan refugees arrived in Canada on 2 December at Toronto’s Pearson Airport. These groups of refugees are sponsored by the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program, which allows Canadians to resettle specific individuals or families who qualify as refugees under Canada’s refugee and humanitarian program.
Till now Canada has welcomed over 4,000 refugees, most of these people who have worked for Canada during and after the military mission in Afghanistan. The federal government has selected 34 resettlement locations across Canada for these refugees. They will undergo quarantine and get vaccinated for COVID-19. These private sponsors help refugees get educated, find jobs, and get settled in Canada comfortably.
Private sponsors are groups of Canadians or organizations, including faith-based associations, ethnocultural groups, or settlement organizations. Privately sponsored refugees are those that are settled in addition to those resettled by the Canadian government. Upon arrival in Canada, they become permanent residents of the country.
Quote by the IRCC:
“In the coming days, this group of refugees will be welcomed into their host sponsor communities and will quarantine with the support of their private sponsors”. These new arrivals are vulnerable Afghan refugees, including women leaders, human rights defenders, persecuted minorities, LGBTI individuals and journalists.
Quote by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser:
“While some of their extended family members may have come to Canada through existing programs over the years, others have not and may now be in a precarious position as a result of their relationship to the interpreters. For those newly arrived in our big, cold country, private sponsors offer a warm welcome. It’s no wonder that many refugees think of their sponsors as family. As we welcome Afghan refugees, private sponsors are essential in helping vulnerable newcomers thrive in their new communities. I look forward to welcoming many more new arrivals in the weeks and months to come.”
Meanwhile, the IRCC has also announced a new pathway for the extended family members of Afghan refugees to come to Canada and join their families. Applications for this program will be opened from 9 December onwards. The Canadian government plans to welcome more than 40,000 such refugees.
Eligibility criteria for the extended family members of Afghan refugees:
- Are a citizen of Afghanistan and can provide relevant identification
- Are direct family (parent, child, grandchild, sibling, or grandparent) of an Afghan refugee who has already been granted permanent residency
- Do not live or reside in Canada at the time of the application
- Were present in Afghanistan on or after July 22
- Can provide a statutory declaration from their family member already in Canada
- Candidates don’t need to currently be in Afghanistan or return to Afghanistan to be eligible
For more information, candidates can visit the IRCC website ( https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/afghanistan/special-measures.html ) or
contact ICanHelpImmigration Services for a detailed consultation.
If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need
