Operational Bulletin 636 – February 1, 2017

Temporary public policy in response to the Executive Order of the United States of America

Summary

Instructions to officers regarding the Temporary Public Policy Concerning Certain Foreign Nationals Affected by the Executive Order of the United States of America Entitled:  “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States”.

Issue

As a result of the Executive Order signed by the President of the United Sates on January 27, 2017, foreign nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen may be stranded in Canada, possibly without status.

Background

On January, 27, 2017, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order entitled: “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States”.  This Executive Order bars citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the United States for a period of 90 days and bars citizens of Syria indefinitely

In response to those who may be stranded in Canada as a result of this Executive Order, our Minister, Ahmed Hussen, has established a Temporary Public Policy which includes special temporary status considerations for those affected individuals.

Instructions

Effective January 30. 2017, the Temporary Public Policy and these instructions apply only to those affected by the Executive Order of the United States entitled: “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States”.

The temporary public policy includes:

• TRP fee exemption at the POE
• Fee exemptions for certain temporary resident applications        
• Ability to apply for a work permit from within Canada

Border Services Officers

Officers who are conducting assessments of foreign nationals who are citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen and who are seeking to travel to the United States from Canada but are unable to do so due to the U.S. Executive Order entitled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” should refer to the Ministerial Instructions associated to this temporary Public Policy. Together, the Public Policy and Ministerial Instructions allow for a short-term (up to 180 days) fee-exempt TRP to be issued as long as the outlined conditions are met.

Centralized Network

A foreign national affected by the Executive Order who were in Canada as of January 27th and who has either valid temporary resident status, requires temporary resident status or restoration, may apply to extend their stay in Canada by submitting an on-line or paper application. Applicants are required to detail how they are affected by the Executive Order in a separate document/letter with their application. 

These foreign nationals may also apply for an open work permit from within Canada.

These individuals will benefit from the following fee exemptions: 

• restoration of status fee ($200)
• temporary resident extension application processing fees
  • Visitor Record ($100)
  • Work Permit ($155)
• open work permit privilege fee (for those already in Canada on January 27, 2017)

Please note the following: 

If applying by mail, applicants should send their application to the following address and clearly label the envelope with: “Urgent: Facilitation”.  Applicants should also include a written statement as to how they have been affected by the Executive Order.

CPC Vegreville
6212-55th Avenue, Unit 601, Vegreville, AB T9C 1W9

If applying online, applicants should follow up with an e-mail after applying to IRCC.Facilitation-Facilitation.IRCC@cic.gc.ca with “Urgent: Facilitation” in the subject line and their application number in the body of the e-mail.  Applicants should also include a written statement as to how they have been affected by the Executive Order.