Special programs for Afghans
The current crisis in Afghanistan has meant a lot of questions from people desperate to escape the horrific conditions there. The Canadian government’s recent announcement of resettling 20,000 refugees has only meant more confusion among those who want to leave Afghanistan. This post will hopefully dispel many inaccuracies and explain the process for refugees abroad to resettle in Canada.
At present, resettlement efforts are limited to the following individuals:
Those eligible include interpreters who worked with the Canadian Armed Forces, cooks, drivers, cleaners, construction workers, security guards and locally engaged staff employed at the Embassy of Canada to Afghanistan, and their family members. Criteria to be referred for resettlement are based on applicants’ significant or enduring relationship with the Government of Canada. Applicants must meet all usual admissibility requirements, including security, criminal and health screenings, and processing timelines will be expedited. Applicants will also be subject to existing COVID-19 public health measures and safety protocols.
a special humanitarian program focused on resettling Afghan nationals who are outside of Afghanistan and who don’t have a durable solution in a third country, which will include people such as women leaders, human rights advocates, LGBTI individuals, journalists and people who assisted Canadian journalists, immediate family members of one of the above, extended family members of previously resettled interpreters who assisted the Government of Canada
The Canadian government has also announced priority processing for certain Permanent Residence applications and sponsorship applications. In terms of Permanent Residence applications, the following types will be given priority consideration:
you’re a Protected Person and your application includes dependent Afghan family members overseas
you’re an Afghan refugee who has already been resettled in Canada and you’re applying for one of your dependents
Priority processing of family members is limited to spouses/common-law partners, dependent children, and orphaned relatives under age 18.
Certain temporary resident applications will also receive priority, namely those already in Canada who need to extend their status, and eligible family members of those already in Canada as temporary residents.
Aside from these specific measures, there is no program that applies to Afghans generally who remain inside Afghanistan. As such, if you do not fit into one of these very narrow programs, and you want to resettle in Canada, you will need to be eligible under an existing program. If you want to learn more about how refugees outside Canada can resettle here, you can read this post.