Canadian officials announced a new initiative starting this fall that will provide up to 11,000 Colombians, Haitians and Venezuelans with a new humanitarian permanent residence pathway.

‌Key Points:

• Earlier this year, Canada announced that they will welcome 15,000 migrants on a humanitarian basis from the Western Hemisphere.
• Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced on Oct. 10 that as part of that effort, Canada will provide a new pathway to permanent residence for citizens of Colombia, Haiti and Venezuela residing in Central or South America or the Caribbean.
• Foreign nationals who have extended family connections in Canada will be eligible to apply for this new pathway.

Additional Information: Successful applicants will also receive additional support, including enhanced pre-arrival services, an employment skills assessment and a referral to a settlement provider organization in their intended community. This support is intended to help migrants integrate into the workforce.

BAL Analysis: The new program is designed to provide an opportunity for those with extended family ties in Canada to apply for permanent residency. The new pathway is available for children, grandchildren, spouses, common-law partners, parents, grandparents or siblings of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The government has not said when the program will take effect, but it is expected to launch at some point this fall.