Hong Kong Watch welcomes the announcement of new lifeboat streams for Hong Kongers to move to Canada
Today, the Canadian Government has announced new pathways to citizenship for Hong Kongers, as part of its lifeboat package previously announced back November 2020.
Immigration Minister, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister, Marco Mendicino MP, has outlined new pathways for Hong Kongers wishing to work and live in Canada.
The details of these two new pathways, include:
A stream for Hong Kongers who have studied at Canadian post-secondary institutions. To qualify for this scheme Hong Kongers must have completed one of the following educational credentials at a post-secondary designated learning institution in Canada in the last 3 years, and they must have done at least 50% of their program of study (in person or online) while in Canada:
- degree (bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate)
- diploma from a program that is at least 2 years in length
- graduate or post-graduate credential (for a diploma or certificate) from a program that is at least 1 year in length; in addition, the program must require a post-secondary degree or diploma, which must have been earned no more than 5 years before starting the graduate or post-graduate program.
A stream for Hong Kongers who have one years’ work experience in Canada in the last three years. To qualify for this scheme Hong Kongers must have at least 1 year of full-time work experience (or the part-time equivalent, that is, at least 1,560 hours in total) in Canada in the last 3 years; they must also have completed one of the following at a post-secondary learning institution in or outside Canada in the last 5 years:
- degree (bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate)
- diploma from a program that is at least 2 years in length
- graduate or post-graduate credential (for a diploma or certificate) from a program that is at least 1 year in length; in addition, the program must require a post-secondary degree or diploma, which must have been earned no more than 5 years before starting the graduate or post-graduate program.
Commenting on the Canadian Government’s new lifeboat streams, Johnny Patterson, Hong Kong Watch’s Director of Policy, said:
“We welcome this announcement by the Government of Canada, which recognises the deteriorating human rights situation and the increased demand among Hong Kongers wishing to leave the city to start a new life in Canada.
Going forward, we hope that the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship will continue to look at ways that the Canadian Government can improve this scheme, including offering a pathway for Hong Kongers who have not worked or studied in Canada, or been fortunate enough to achieve post-secondary qualifications.
Given the substantial number of Canadians living in Hong Kong and Hong Kongers living in Canada, we urge the Government to look at ways to expand the rules around family reunification as well, to include extended relatives.”
For further information visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2021/06/minister-mendicino-announces-opening-of-2-new-pathways-to-permanent-residence-for-hong-kong-residents.html