Friday several Haitian and Zimbabwean nationals have expressed their concern, front the Guy-Favreau Complex in Montreal, before the possibility of being deported to their home countries since Ottawa ended the moratorium on deportations, December 1, 2014 and requires all concerned citizens pass through the immigration process. Otherwise, they risk being repatriated to their country of origin.

This measure, affects about 3,200 Haitians living mainly in the Montreal area who benefited from the moratorium since 2004, because of their immigration or asylum is rejected, but which had not been returned to their country because of a situation deemed too dangerous.

Serge Bouchereau, of the Action Committee of Non-status people, asked the Federal Government to adopt a collective measure, which would allow all these immigrants to have access at the same time to a permanent resident status, although the Canadian immigration policy provides that status applications must be treated on a case by case basis. He fears that with this selection process a lot of our fellow Haitians will be forced to take the path of the airport...

Kathleen Weil, Minister of Immigration of Quebec, recalls that a special agreement was negotiated with Ottawa, in which the Fed is committed to comply with the recommendations of Quebec "We will process files with great openness, a lot of humanity," encouraging immigrants concerned to submit their applications for permanent residence before June 1, 2015.

In a statement the Canadian Government recalls that : "On December 1, 2014, in acknowledgment of improved conditions in Haiti and Zimbabwe, the Government of Canada lifted the temporary suspension of removals (TSR) to these two countries. If you do not have legal status in Canada, you could face removal. However, you may be eligible to stay in Canada as a permanent resident.

If you meet the criteria, you may apply for permanent residence on H&C grounds. Apply on or before June 1, 2015, and you will be able to stay in Canada while a decision is made on your application. If you apply after June 1, 2015, you will be at risk of being removed from Canada.

As well, certain Haitian nationals in Canada who were affected by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and were benefitting from the Haiti Special Measures (which expired on November 30, 2014) are also eligible to apply under these measures.

Application forms for permanent residence on H&C grounds can be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/handc.asp

The envelope should be clearly labelled with the words

“Haiti – TSR” or “Zimbabwe – TSR”

when you mail your application.

There is an additional form to be completed by residents of Quebec https://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/publications/fr/dcs/A-0523-IF-dyn.pdf

Note : If you have already submitted a permanent resident application under H&C grounds and a decision is pending, you may want to update your submissions, given that the TSR has been lifted.

For more information, visit the CIC website at www.cic.gc.ca. You can also contact the Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100"

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12713-haiti-notice-getting-the-quebec-selection-certificate.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12636-haiti-canada-temporary-suspension-of-removals-lifted-for-haiti.html

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre