IRCC announces new temporary policy for PR applicants from Hong Kong allowing permanent residence applicants from Hong Kong to stay in Canada while their applications are being processed. As they await the results of their applications, Hong Kong PR aspirants now have more assistance thanks to this new IRCC policy.
IRCC has put this temporary measure into place in response to the large number of applications that followed the first temporary public policy for Hong Kong residents issued in 2021. The action is intended to handle the large number of Hong Kong applicants seeking permanent residence in Canada in the context of the geopolitical tensions between China and Hong Kong. For Hong Kong residents who have worked or studied in Canada, the IRCC created two new routes in 2021 for them to apply for PR status.
IRCC’s New Temporary Policy for Hong Kong PR Applicants Explained
People from Hong Kong who applied for permanent residency through the IRCC’s 2021 pathway will be able to extend their status and apply for an open work permit (OWP) starting on May 27th, 2024. They can remain in Canada and work during the application processing period because to this change.
The policy targets applicants meeting the following criteria:
- Applied under either Stream A (In-Canada Graduates) or Stream B (Canadian Work Experience) of the 2021 policy.
- Possessed a valid work or study permit within the three years preceding the submission of their permanent residence application.
This new governmental policy will allow applicants for permanent residency to stay in Canada while their applications are being reviewed. It will be in place for five years.
IRCC notes that those having temporary status in Canada, like those with work or study permits, and their guardians bear the responsibility of monitoring the expiration date of their permits and reapplying for status as necessary. A legal provision known as “maintained status” allows a person in Canada with a work or study permit to remain in the country while they wait for a decision if they apply to renew before the permission expires.
The IRCC also warns that individuals who lost their Canadian legal status within 90 days of applying for an open work permit (OWP) under the new policy are eligible to apply for both the OWP and status restoration at the same time. However, an applicant’s application will not be accepted under this new regulation if they had been out of legal status for longer than ninety-nine days before applying.
An overview of the temporary policy for Hong Kong residents
Since 1923, Canada and Hong Kong have had diplomatic ties, and Hong Kong continues to be one of the top immigration destinations for Canada each year. More over 200,000 immigrants to Canada in 2021 claimed Hong Kong as their birthplace, according to data.
China enacted a national security law in Hong Kong on June 30, 2020, which broadly defines and makes illegal “secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces.” The Canadian government expressed worries about this trend, citing the possibility for discriminatory or arbitrary law enforcement, as well as the loss of rights and freedoms.
In response, Canada enacted a number of policies intended to facilitate the immigration of citizens of Hong Kong. The government’s Indo-Pacific Strategy outlines the nation’s ongoing support for the people of Hong Kong.
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