Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently revealed plans to boost the processing of applications under temporary special measures for Palestinian extended families residing in Gaza.
In January, the department initially aimed to process 1,000 applications for Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs) for Gaza residents who are relatives of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. However, on May 27, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced an expansion of this initiative to include 5,000 applications.
To facilitate the process, IRCC is sharing the names of individuals who have cleared preliminary screening with local authorities, aiding in their departure from Gaza.
Who qualifies?
As per the latest available information, individuals seeking the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) must satisfy the criteria for one of two groups. Group 1 applicants must:
- Hold a passport or travel document issued by the Palestinian Authority
- Reside in the Gaza Strip on the day of application submission
- Have an eligible anchor, who can be their spouse or common-law partner, child (regardless of age), grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling (including half-siblings and adopted siblings)
- Not be inadmissible to Canada for reasons other than financial ones
Additionally, there exists a Group 2 for relatives of those who meet the Group 1 criteria. According to the department, family members encompass:
- Spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent child (your own, your spouse’s, or your common-law partner’s)
- Dependent child of a dependent child
Moreover, eligible anchors must:
- Hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency status
- Be aged 18 years or older
- Maintain a relationship with the person described in Group 1
- Currently reside or have intentions to reside in Canada
- Be committed to supporting the applicant and their family members for one year to facilitate their settlement and integration in Canada
The department emphasizes that certain applicants may need to undergo a medical assessment if they have resided continuously in any designated countries or territories for six months or more within the year prior to their planned entry to Canada. This assessment can be arranged after departing from Gaza.
To apply, eligible candidates need to fill out a statutory declaration form and a consent form. Once completed, they should submit a web crisis form for each family unit, which includes the Group 1 applicant and their family members. Each person mentioned in the statutory declaration form will receive a unique web reference code. However, it’s important to note that receiving a code doesn’t guarantee a spot, so applicants should promptly finalize their TRV application after receiving the code.