A new immigration route for families affected by the continuing turmoil in Sudan was revealed today by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The government said that it would begin accepting up to 3,250 applications from families or single candidates on February 27, 2024. The successful candidates of this new family sponsorship channel will be granted permanent residency (PR). The IRCC has said that for those who are granted permanent residency through this route, it will waive the right to permanent residence cost and offer free settlement assistance.
Who is eligible to apply using this new route?
In order to qualify for this route, candidates need to:
- became residents of Sudan on April 15, 2023;
- not be able to return to any other nation save Sudan or Canada;
- Be a qualifying anchor*’s kid (of any age), grandchild, sibling, parent, or grandparent
- Obtain a formal statement from their anchor certifying that they will: Provide a year of assistance for you and any accompanying family members; and
- They have not accepted any money from you or your family members and they never will.
- Decide to move outside of Quebec, into a province or territory; and
- be ineligible for admission for any purpose other than financial one.
- In addition to the previously listed requirements, anyone may apply if
- Their common-law partner or spouse is either unable to leave Sudan or is missing, assumed dead, or died;
- Their common-law partner or spouse is the kid (regardless of age), grandchild, sibling, parent, or grandparent of an anchor who qualifies and is prepared to assist you; and
- They fulfill every other prerequisite.
*An extended family member who consents to help you and/or your family during your first year in Canada is known as an anchor. They will help you meet your basic requirements, such as shelter, food, clothes, and other basics, as well as providing cash support.
Who is fit to serve as an anchor?
An anchor has to be:
- be at least eighteen years old;
- possess citizenship or permanent residency in Canada;
- reside in Canada (not in Quebec, though);
- Demonstrate that they have the resources or revenue to cover the required amount.
An anchor isn’t allowed to be
- in the process of applying to give up their permanent residence status or Canadian citizenship;
- in a prison or jail;
- under a Canadian deportation order;
- not fulfilling their legal obligation to pay the Government of Canada any money owed, including deferred payments, on an immigration loan, performance bond, or any other sum;
- not meeting the terms of a sponsorship agreement, making support payments, or paying back any debts owing to the Canadian government;
- Insolvent;
- getting social assistance for a non-disability-related purpose; or
- found guilty of a crime specified in the public policy.
How do those who qualify apply for this pathway?
People have to use the PR site to apply. This is where all required paperwork, including papers and statements from the anchor, must be turned in.
An application will be returned if it is discovered to be incomplete. If the road is still available in these situations, candidates will have the opportunity to reapply. Here is more information on the application process.
Sudanese in Canada
17,485 Canadians identified Sudan as their country of ethnic or cultural origin, according to Census 2021 data. Of them, 4,690 are recent immigrants to Canada who claim Sudan as their birthplace.
