CIMM – Q-310 – IRCC Response – February 8, 2023
Inquiry of Ministry
Prepare in English and French marking "original text" or "translation"
Question No. : Q-310
By: Mrs. Kusie (Calgary Midnapore)
Date: February 4. 2022
Reply by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Print name of Signatory: Marie-France Lalonde, M.P.
Signature, Minister or Parliamentary Secretary
Question
With regard to applications received by the government in relation to the relocation to Canada from Afghanistan of interpreters or other individuals who assisted Canadian Armed Forces, and their families: (a) what is the number of applications received from Afghanistan, for relocation to Canada, since August 1, 2021; (b) how many of the applications were prioritized as urgent; (c) how many of the applications are supported by (i) retired Canadian Forces personnel, (ii) other Canadian citizens or permanent residents; (d) how many of the applicants were relocated to Canada, broken down by month since August 1, 2021; and (e) how many staff members at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada have been working full-time on processing these applications, broken down by month, since August 1, 2021?
Reply
Insofar as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is concerned:
- As of February 4, 2022, approximately 14,830 applications have been received from Afghan nationals who have assisted the Government of Canada. Approximately 9,400 applications have been received from individuals who assisted Canadian Armed Forces.
- There is no specific data available on the number of cases prioritized. Applications are processed as quickly as possible on a “first in first out” basis. The key challenge is that most clients are in Afghanistan, where Canada does not currently have a presence on the ground. IRCC is working closely with partners and neighboring countries in the region on how best to facilitate the safe movement of Afghan nationals out of Afghanistan so that the processing of their applications can continue.
- Afghan nationals who have assisted the Government of Canada are captured under the Special Immigration Measures, which are processed as Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs). GARs are not required to have Canadians/Private sponsors in place to support them. We do not have data to respond to this question.
- Of the approximately 9,400 applications received for Afghan nationals who assisted the Canadian Armed Forces, approximately 6,184 applications have been approved, and approximately 2,385 of these individuals have arrived, as broken down here by month:
Year | Month of Arrival | Arrivals (in persons) |
---|---|---|
2021 | Aug | 905 |
Sept | 330 | |
Oct | 650 | |
Nov | 125 | |
Dec | 115 | |
2021 Total | 2,125 | |
2022 | Jan | 210 |
Feb | 55 | |
2022 Total | 265 | |
Grand Total | 2,385 |
- Though IRCC has added significant resources to increase processing capacity, they do not have specific data about staff working exclusively on processing applications for Afghan nationals.
The Department continues processing applications as efficiently as possible, not only adding resources, but also waiving application fees, as well as mobilizing our global network to process and issue visas on an urgent basis. We have set up a dedicated telephone line, with extended hours, to serve Afghan clients seeking information and assistance.
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