Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced on August 14, 2020, a temporary measure that will provide a pathway to permanent residence for eligible asylum claimants working on the front lines in the health-care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic (PR COVID-19)
Although not all the requirements for the program have been provided by the Government, the following have been announced by the Minister:
The program does not apply to claimants who have been found ineligible to make an asylum claim, or who have withdrawn or abandoned their claims.
To qualify, individuals must meet the following:
- have claimed asylum before March 13, 2020
- were issued a work permit after they made a claim for asylum
- have worked in the health-care sector, in health institutions (for example, hospitals, long-term care homes, home care through an organization or agency, assisted living facilities)
- have worked in a designated occupation for no less than 120 hours between March 13, 2020 and August 14, 2020. The designated occupations that are included in this special measure are orderlies, nurses, nurses’ aides and patient service associates, assistant orderlies and certain home support workers.
- demonstrate 6 months of experience in the designated occupation before being granted permanent residence. Applicants will have until August 31, 2021 to acquire this experience.
- have a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), if wishing to reside in Quebec
- meet existing admissibility requirements, including those related to criminality, security and health
The News Release from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship entitled Pathway to permanent residency recognizes exceptional service of asylum claimants on front lines of COVID-19 pandemic can be found here.
The Government of Quebec has also made a similar announcement regarding the CSQ requirement for eligible candidates who reside in Quebec.
Quebec has provided some hints as to the eligible occupations but it will be interesting to see if the Federal Government will use the same occupations to determine eligiblity:
- 3011 – Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors
- 3012 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 3233 – Licensed practical nurses
- 3413 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- 4412 – Home support workers
This is great news for claimants who contributed to the fight against COVID-19 but some believe the policy should go even further.
Please note that this should not be construed as Legal Advice. This is General Information and should not be acted on.
This list of the frontlines who are still fighting the pandemic of COVID-19, the list is too short and not inclusive what about other healthcare providers like Medical laboratory technologists, a medical laboratory technicians who are testing millions of the swabs since the beginning of this COVID?
Do you know which group of people are involved in this application or how do you apply?
How to get the email of Mr. Kevin Lemkay?
Kind regards
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There is certainly a great deal to learn about this subject. I love all of the points you made. Mae Walsh Publus