Canada refused more humanitarian applications for immigration in 2020
The number of Humanitarian and Compassionate application refusals increased from 35% in 2019 to almost 70% in the first quarter of 2021, according to data released by the Migrant Rights Network.
Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) applications are a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for people who are inadmissible to Canada or don’t fully meet the immigration requirements. Further, these migrants are considered on a case-by-case basis according to factors such as:
- How difficult is it for them to leave Canada?
- Also, Are they able to establish their lives in Canada?
- Is there any specific factor that justifies the issuance of permanent residence?
- Among others
Most undocumented migrants have no path to stability except through the Humanitarian and Compassionate application process. Migrant Rights Network.
Humanitarian and Compassionate statistics from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
According to the data, in 2019, the Canadian government refused 35% of 10,600 applications. Also, in 2020, this refusal figure increased to 57% of the 11,000 applications. In addition, between January and March of this year, around 70% of the nearly 9,000 applications were refused.
| 2019 | 2020 | Jan – Mar 2021 | |
| Accepted | 5,075 | 3,735 | 1,265 |
| Refused | 2,760 | 5,000 | 2,915 |
| Applied | 10,600 | 11,105 | 8,970 |
| Acceptance Rate | 64.77% | 42.76% | 30.26% |
| refusal Rate | 35.23% | 57.24% | 69.74% |
According to Migrant Rights Networks, these refusals increased “without any announced change in policy, at the same time as immigration levels in Canada saw a historic downturn in 2020”. Also, the network of self-organized migrants pointed out that over half a million undocumented residents in Canada.
A spokesperson for IRCC said in an email to CTVNews, that COVID-19 played a role in the figures. “The reason the number of refusals appears higher than approvals is because of COVID-related delays and the facilitative policy to grant extensions for submissions.” This impacted our ability to finalize cases that were pending approval, he added.
Two stages of an in-Canada H&C application
According to our CEO and RCIC, Al Parsai, H&C applications have two stages. First, if you submit your application in Canada, the officer reviews the application and then either denies your request or approves the H&C elements of it. Then, the second stage of the processing includes medical examinations and background checks for potential inadmissibility. This can cause approvals to take longer to finalize.
Peter Liang, the spokesperson for IRCC, added that as a result of Covid “delays in receiving necessary additional documentation and medicals have resulted in approval rates to appear lower than they actually are.”
Also, Advocates ask the government to regularize and give permanent residency to all migrants already in the country, including undocumented people.
Let us help!
If you are facing immigration issues or would like to file an H&C application, fill out the following form. Alternatively, you can fill out our assessment form or book an appointment with one of the best Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants, Al Parsai.
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