As Ukraine visa program end looms, minister set to make announcement – National | 24CA News
Canada’s immigration minister is ready to provide an replace on measures welcoming Ukrainians into the nation because the deadline approaches for an emergency visa program for these fleeing Russia’s invasion.
Sean Fraser will make an announcement Wednesday afternoon “regarding updates to immigration measures for Ukrainians in response to Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine,” based on a media advisory from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
This comes because the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program (CUAET), which expedites visas and non permanent residency permits for Ukrainians and their households, is ready to run out March 31.
Under this plan – one among two particular applications that have been introduced in March of final yr – Ukrainians can keep within the nation for as much as three years.
This non permanent program permits Ukrainians and members of the family of Ukrainians to use for a free customer visa and an open work allow in addition to examine in Canada throughout their keep.
Canada can also be providing a particular household reunification sponsorship program for everlasting residency, which permits for a wider circle of members of the family to be resettled in Canada than is allowed underneath conventional strains.
Since January 2022, 190,970 Ukrainians have arrived in Canada, together with CUAET candidates and returning Canadian everlasting residents. At least 616,429 functions by way of the CUAET program have been accredited out of 943,730 which have been acquired.
There is rising stress on the federal authorities to increase the present CUAET because the warfare in Ukraine has entered its second yr and reveals no indicators of ending.
Earlier this month, Conservative MPs, together with shadow immigration minister Tom Kmiec, wrote to Fraser calling for an extension to be introduced “without delay,” reminding him that the warfare is much from over.
Responding to a query final week in regards to the emergency visa program for Ukrainians, Fraser mentioned he expects to share extra news prematurely of the March 31 deadline.
“When I see children, the same age as my own kids, that are going to school and more than anything are safe in our communities, I’d do this again 100 times out of 100,” Fraser mentioned.
— with information from Global News’ Sean Boynton
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
