Haitian, Zimbabwean Nationals given extra time to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada

The Honourable John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness today announced that an additional six months have been given to allow certain nationals of Haiti and Zimbabwe to apply for permanent residence without risk of removal from Canada.

This measure gives those who have not applied for permanent residence in Canada based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds a further opportunity to do so. “We encourage all Haitians and Zimbabweans in Canada who want to make this country their permanent home to apply for permanent resident status,” John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship said.

The six months are in addition to the six months that were already given to affected nationals following the lifting of the temporary suspension of removals to Haiti and Zimbabwe on December 1, 2014. In support of this reinstated measure, the Canada Border Services Agency will again defer any removals pending a final decision on the H&C applications. Affected Haitian and Zimbabwean nationals will have the chance to continue to build their lives in Canada.