The Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) program in Canada is one of the main schemes through which refugees can enter and settle in this country. To be eligible for it, an applicant must meet specific conditions and must go through a dedicated procedure.
Below, immigration lawyers in Canada present the most important aspects of this program. You can proceed and read about the humanitarian and compassionate grounds in Canada.
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The Humanitarian PR in Canada
The Canadian humanitarian visa or the compassionate visa, can be obtained by people who find themselves in exceptional circumstances that do not allow them to migrate to Canada through the usual programs. The H&C in Canada is a scheme created for people who had to leave their home countries for various reasons, among which:
- fear for physical or mental wellbeing;
- fear for their lives;
- persecution.
Each case falling under Canada’s humanitarian immigration rules is analyzed separately. Moreover, applicants must meet specific requirements to be allowed to obtain a humanitarian visa.
Oftentimes, such cases prove quite complicated, which is why we recommend requesting specialized advice from our Canadian immigration law firm before forwarding an application for the Humanitarian and Compassionate scheme.
Humanitarian and compassionate grounds in Canada
To be eligible for the humanitarian PR in Canada, an applicant must meet the following conditions:
- they must be living in Canada at the time of the application;
- their stay here must be legitimate, meaning they must have valid Canadian residence permits;
- they must demonstrate that they would face difficulties that endanger their physical or mental integrity.
For the last point, we recommend applicants to prepare strong evidence, such as medical and/or police reports, witness testimonies, other documents that may support their application. Our Canadian immigration lawyer can verify all papers to help candidates for the H&C in Canada.
Please note that the compassionate visa for Canada can also be used to obtain the refugee status. The visa is created for people who face hardship in their home countries and who already live in this country, not being able to return home.
Documents required when filing for the Canadian humanitarian visa
Canadian humanitarian immigration requires the preparation of various documents, among which:
- the standard application form;
- valid passport;
- proof of the legal stay in Canada, which may include work permits, student visas, family reunion visas;
- marriage certificate (in case the applicant is married);
- proof of common law partnership (if applicable);
- evidence that sustains the application.
Our immigration lawyers can help you prepare the dossier to file for the Humanitarian and Compassionate program in Canada. Considering applications are reviewed on a case-to-case basis, the entire process may take between 12 and 24 months to complete.
How many refugees live in Canada?
As one of the largest countries in the world, Canada has already welcomed more than 1 million refugees over time. According to the latest data for 2023:
- 169,448 new refugees entered Canada, 20.5% more compared to 2022;
- in 2022, there were 140,621 refugee applications accepted by the Canadian immigration authorities.
Our lawyers are also at the service of those who want to immigrate to Canada from the USA. We can also help if you want to file for citizenship in Canada.
For more information on humanitarian and compassionate grounds in Canada, please contact us.
