As a result of the national calamity in the Philippines created by super typhoon Yolanda, Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced Thursday that Canada will be prioritizing the processing of applications on request from Filipinos who are significantly and personally affected by the typhoon.
Applications from Filipino citizens to extend their temporary stay in Canada will be considered in a compassionate and flexible matter. Citizenship and Immigration Canada will receive requests for priority processing by email at situation-philippines@cic.gc.ca or through a dedicated crisis line at its Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100.
Overseas applicants, who have applied for temporary or permanent visas, may contact the visa office in Manila, to declare their case as a priority, by email at manila-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca. The visa office will consider applicants who can demonstrate they are significantly and personally affected by the typhoon, with priority given to those in affected areas.
The government responded in a similar manner following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Instructions were given in 2010 for priority processing of applications in Canada and abroad, waiving certain fees and requirements to have travel documents. The extent of the government’s relaxation of requirements will not be known until the government issues a detailed operational bulletin, so it is advised to keep informed by regularly checking the immigration website at www.cic.gc.ca.
The Filipino community is making an increasing contribution to the social and economic development of Canada. Since 2006, the Philippines has been the second largest source of immigrants, with 32,747 Filipinos arriving in 2012. As of the 2011 census, 662,605 persons identified themselves as Filipino, including 133,995 in British Columbia; making it the third-largest non-European community in the country. In addition, 47,470 Filipinos were in Canada on Dec. 1, 2012, as temporary workers.
Canadians are responding to the plight befalling those in the Philippines. The Government of Canada has pledged up to $5-million for assistance, as well as sending a disaster relief team. Fundraisers have been organized across the country as Canadians of all stripes worth together to help those in need..
William Macintosh started practising as an immigration lawyer in 1984. You can reach him for advice or help on any immigration or citizenship matter at 778-714-8787 or by email at macintoshlaw@gmail.com.
Applications from Filipino citizens to extend their temporary stay in Canada will be considered in a compassionate and flexible matter. Citizenship and Immigration Canada will receive requests for priority processing by email at situation-philippines@cic.gc.ca or through a dedicated crisis line at its Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100.
Overseas applicants, who have applied for temporary or permanent visas, may contact the visa office in Manila, to declare their case as a priority, by email at manila-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca. The visa office will consider applicants who can demonstrate they are significantly and personally affected by the typhoon, with priority given to those in affected areas.
The government responded in a similar manner following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Instructions were given in 2010 for priority processing of applications in Canada and abroad, waiving certain fees and requirements to have travel documents. The extent of the government’s relaxation of requirements will not be known until the government issues a detailed operational bulletin, so it is advised to keep informed by regularly checking the immigration website at www.cic.gc.ca.
The Filipino community is making an increasing contribution to the social and economic development of Canada. Since 2006, the Philippines has been the second largest source of immigrants, with 32,747 Filipinos arriving in 2012. As of the 2011 census, 662,605 persons identified themselves as Filipino, including 133,995 in British Columbia; making it the third-largest non-European community in the country. In addition, 47,470 Filipinos were in Canada on Dec. 1, 2012, as temporary workers.
Canadians are responding to the plight befalling those in the Philippines. The Government of Canada has pledged up to $5-million for assistance, as well as sending a disaster relief team. Fundraisers have been organized across the country as Canadians of all stripes worth together to help those in need..
William Macintosh started practising as an immigration lawyer in 1984. You can reach him for advice or help on any immigration or citizenship matter at 778-714-8787 or by email at macintoshlaw@gmail.com.
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2 comments:
Please keep us up to date on whether or how the government relaxes visa requirements for those affected by the disaster. This government are known for making big statements but in fact doing little. Five million seems a little paltry in light of the devastation, yet they spend 40 million on advertising for the oil industry. Shouldn't it be the other way around and shouldn't the oil industry pay for its own ads? Just saying.
The Immigration Department has not yet posted any formal operational bulletin regarding the situation in the Philippines. I understand that the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) has made an informal decision to defer removing persons to the Philippines. How long that will last is not known. The Immigration Minister has not made a formal decision to stay removals to the Philippines under section 50 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
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