CIMM – Question Period Note – Ukraine – November 29, 2022

Date: October 21, 2022
Classification:
Department: IRCC

Issue:

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion into Ukraine. Since then, there have been domestic and international movements of the Ukrainian population, including to Canada given our country’s strong Ukrainian-Canada community.

Proposed Response:

• Canada continues to stand with the people of Ukraine, and is committed to helping Ukrainians find a temporary safe haven while they flee war.
• Streamlining current visa and travel requirements, the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel is the fastest, safest, and most efficient way for Ukrainians to come to Canada. As of Oct. 18, 2022, over 312,318 applications have been approved.
• We provided 3 federal charter flights to make it easier for Ukrainians to travel to Canada, and have put in place supports to help them after they arrive.
• This includes transitional financial assistance to help them meet their basic needs, and access to federally funded settlement services that are usually only available to permanent residents.

If Pressed:

• Canada is also offering settlement services such as language training, orientation, employment-related services and other supports for all Ukrainians as well as exempting certain lower-risk Ukrainian nationals applying under the CUAET from the biometrics collection requirement.
• In addition, the Government of Canada is providing accommodations for up to 14 nights for CUAET holders arriving in select cities who are in dire need of housing and have no immediate alternatives. Travel documents priority processing has also been implemented across all of our business lines for affected individuals.
• As this situation evolves, we are monitoring developments, tracking application processing closely, and will take action where needed to support Ukrainians and their families both in Ukraine and Canada.

If Pressed WP Processing

• To help arriving Ukrainian nationals affected by the war, IRCC is issuing work permits to those who are eligible. Almost 445,000 of these applications were received by IRCC as of October 5, 2022 and over 215,000 have been approved.

If Pressed On Russia Trvs

• There are no special immigration measures for Russian nationals. Russian nationals can continue to apply through our regular immigration pathways.
• All visitors to Canada must meet the requirements for temporary residence in Canada, as set out in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
• Applications from around the world are assessed equally and against the same criteria, regardless of the country of origin, on a case-by-case basis.

If Pressed On Budget:

• The Budget 2022 provides additional funding to bolster Canada’s response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and details some measures already in place, including the funding of $111 million over 5 years, with $6 million in future years, to implement new immigration measures for Ukrainians.

If Pressed On Ukraine’s Request For Visa Liberalization:

• Canada and Ukraine enjoy a close friendship built on shared values and strong people-to-people connections.
• Similar to Canada’s like-minded partners, Canada considers a range of factors before lifting a country’s visa requirement.
• Our relationship with Ukraine is a key factor, but so is the safety and security of Canadians, and the importance of maintaining a well-managed migration system.
• We have a number of special immigration solutions that we believe will help Ukrainians.
• Canada's visa approach is in line with that of the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand.
• Ukraine's visa requirement is not currently under review, but the situation is being monitored very closely to support the people of Ukraine.

Contact:
Jean-Marc Gionet
Director General, Immigration Program Guidance
Tel. No.: (613) 437-7356
Cell. No.: (343) 549-9404

Approved By:
Nicole Giles
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations
Tel. No.: (613) 462-7726

Background:

• Canada and Ukraine have enjoyed close bilateral relations since Canada became the first Western nation to recognize Ukraine’s independence on December 2, 1991. Warm people-to-people ties are strengthened by an over 1.3 million strong Ukrainian-Canadian community in Canada.
• On February 24, 2022, Russia escalated its political and military posture by initiating a full-scale military incursion into Ukraine’s sovereign territory beyond the two disputed territories. Since this escalation, there have been domestic and international movements of the Ukrainian population, including to Canada given our country’s strong Ukrainian-Canada community.
• The IRCC office in Kyiv has been temporarily closed since February 9, 2022. IRCC continues to leverage its global integrated network to support continued service delivery and has redirected passport and consular services for persons in Ukraine to other IRCC offices in the region.
• On February 24, 2022, the Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Kyiv and Lviv were temporarily closed. Kyiv remains closed, but Lviv re-opened on July 13, 2022. As a result of the renewed bombings of Ukraine by Russia the VAC in Lviv was closed for the week of October 10-14. The VAC in Lviv reopened on October 15, 2022.
• Given the escalation of events, as of February 24, 2022, IRCC implemented a series of measures to continue supporting those residing in Ukraine as well as in-Canada Ukrainian nationals wishing to remain in Canada.
• Dedicated service channels (web, e-mail, phone) were also activated to provide clients with the most up to date information.
• The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel is the fastest, safest, and most efficient way for Ukrainians and their family members of any nationality to come to Canada. Clients can apply for free from anywhere in the world for this new path, which offers streamlined processing. Their stay in Canada could be extended by up to 3 years, with options to work or study at no cost. There is no limit to the number of Ukrainians who can apply.
• Ukrainian workers, students and visitors and their family members who are already in Canada also benefit from fee-exempt options to work, study, or stay for up to three years.
• Certain clients are exempt from providing biometrics and the immigration medical exam overseas.
• IRCC is currently considering options to facilitate permanent residence for certain Ukrainian nationals.
• In addition to these new measures, IRCC previously announced that we will waive fees, retroactive to February 22, 2022, for certain travel and immigration documents. These include Canadian passports, permanent resident travel documents, proofs of citizenship, visitor visas, as well as work and study permits. Individuals who already paid these fees on or after February 22, 2022, may be eligible for a refund.
• Settlement Program services, which are typically only available to permanent residents, will soon be extended until March 31, 2023, for temporary residents in Canada eligible under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET). This is an extraordinary temporary measure aimed at supporting Ukrainians arriving under this special, accelerated temporary residence pathway. Key services that will be available to Ukrainians as they settle into their new communities include
  • language training
  • information about and orientation to life in Canada, such as help with enrolling children in school
  • information and services to help access the labour market, including mentoring, networking, counselling, skills development and training
  • activities that promote connections with communities
  • assessments of other needs Ukrainians may have and referrals to appropriate agencies
  • services targeted to the needs of women, seniors, youth and LGBTQ2+ persons
  • other settlement supports available through the Settlement Program
• The Government of Canada is also actively working with provinces, territories and settlement organizations across the country to support Ukrainians arriving in Canadian communities. Operation Ukrainian Safe Haven, which is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and coordinated in partnership with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, is a national coordination initiative linking key stakeholders involved with supporting Ukrainians coming to Canada. This includes national communication objectives, including referrals for housing offers, donations, volunteers, jobs, and other key orientation resources and communications from provinces and territories.
• The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship also launched the Ukraine2Canada Travel Fund in partnership with Miles4Migrants, The Shapiro Foundation and Air Canada, which will build on our support for Ukrainians wishing to travel to Canada.
• As of April 20, Canadians and Canadian companies can donate Aeroplan points to the Ukraine2Canada Travel Fund through Air Canada or Miles4Migrants. For those who want to donate cash, the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto will be collecting donations on behalf of the Ukraine2Canada Travel Fund. These partners are inviting Canadians to donate, with the goal of bringing up to 10,000 Ukrainians and their families on flights to Canada. In addition to a significant donation of 100 million Aeroplan points by Air Canada, The Shapiro Foundation will match donations by Canadians, with a donation equivalent of up to 50 million Aeroplan points. As of August 19, over 1,000 requests to travel have been received through this fund.
• IRCC led the implementation of the three charter flights that brought nearly 1,000 Ukrainians and their family members to Canada, specifically to Winnipeg on May 23, Montreal on May 29 and Halifax on June 2.
• IRCC also made amendments to the Resettlement Assistance Program authorities to be able to deliver on the transitional financial assistance, in partnership with Service Canada for service delivery. The online application for the transitional financial assistance was launched on June 2, 2022. The benefit consists of a direct one-time payment of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child (17 years and under). As of October 5, 2022, 63,306 individuals have been approved for payment under the Canada-Ukraine Transitional Assistance Initiative, for a total payout of $165,670,500.
• The Department is also collaborating with partners on a phased approach for implementing temporary accommodations for Ukrainian arrivals. The first phase focused on providing accommodations for those arriving via the three charters from Poland, and the second phase is addressing supports for the broader number of visa holders under the CUAET, arriving without planned accommodation. Additional emergency housing supports will also be put in place for persons whose housing options are no longer viable (e.g. in circumstances of family violence).

Visa exemption request and related issues:

ATIP-EXEMPT Do not share

• [Redacted]
• [Redacted]
• We are investing an additional $117 million to implement Canada’s new immigration measures to help set up new immigration pathways, expedite the processing of applications, and provide support to newcomers once they arrive in Canada.