New Immigration Measures to Support Sudanese Nationals in Canada

On April 24, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced new immigration measures to assist Sudanese temporary residents currently in Canada who may be unable to return to their home country due to the unstable situation there.

Under these new measures, Sudanese nationals in Canada will be able to apply for an extension of their status in Canada and move between temporary streams to continue working, studying, or visiting. These extensions will be provided free of charge. 

IRCC will also prioritise processing completed temporary and permanent residence applications already in the system from people who are still in Sudan. This includes visitor visa applications for eligible immediate family members of Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents.

The Canadian government will also waive passport and document fees for citizens and permanent residents of Canada currently in Sudan who wish to leave the country. 

“Canada has a proud and long-standing tradition of providing protection to vulnerable people around the world, and we are deeply concerned for the well-being of people in Sudan” stated minister Fraser on Monday, “We are monitoring the situation closely, and are working to provide support for those seeking safety in Canada.”

These new measures are in response to the recent unrest in Sudan, which stems from a conflict between two rival military factions. Most of the fighting is reportedly occurring near the capital, Khartoum. 

According to data from Census 2021, 17,485 people in Canada identify Sudan as their country of ethnic or cultural origin, while a further 4,690 are recent immigrants to Canada who were born in Sudan.

The Canadian government’s introduction of new immigration measures to support Sudanese temporary residents reflects its continued commitment to providing protection and assistance to those in need or in a vulnerable position.

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