• Posted 14-Sep-2020

Pathway to permanent residency for Asylum seekers for their outstanding heroism

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Honourable Marco E.L. Mendicino has commended the health workers for their contributions towards battling the COVID-19 pandemic while emphasising the pivotal role they play in the ensuring that Canadians are healthy. The Honourable Minister went further to announce a measure introduced to help all asylum seekers who have been at the front line of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic to easily apply for permanent residency in Canada.

This new measure is targeted to ensure that all asylum seekers who have been helping the Canadian health system by rendering the best of health care voluntarily can now apply for a permanent residence provided that they have met the requirements. Quebec will decide those that are suitable to be granted this opportunity. The basic deciding factor for eligibility will be centred on the degree of severity an asylum seeker has relied on for seeking asylum in line with his or her ability to still render such health care despite the ugly situation the asylum seeker faces.

The asylum seekers have to meet the following requirements –

Must have applied for asylum before March 13, 2020

Must have been legally and successfully issued a work permit after the claim for asylum

Must have carried out voluntary health care services in the health industry via various institutions such as hospitals, assisted living environments, care centre homes and any other related health industry

Must have acquired sufficient knowledge and experience in the job for a period of 6 months which has to be met before August 31, 2020

If such a person intends to reside in Quebec, he or she must have a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ)

Must satisfy any other relevant requirement in line with the law.