HKW Patron Garnett Genuis introduces petition calling for IRCC to expand HK Pathway Stream B

On Wednesday, Hong Kong Watch Canada Patron, Garnett Genuis MP, introduced a House of Commons petition calling for the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to expand the Hong Kong Pathway Stream B permanent residency and remove the five-year graduation restriction. 

The petition notes that on February 6, 2023, Canada announced an extension and expansion of the open work permit program for eligible Hong Kong residents by extending the Open Work Permit (OWP) for an additional two years. However, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada failed to expand and extend the Stream B Pathway.

Stream B applicants currently face strict time constraints to gain the relevant experience needed to qualify for permanent residency in Canada.

The residents call on Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to remove the five-year restriction to include all persons who fulfill the educational credential requirement of Stream B.

This would ensure that the Open Work Permit for Hong Kongers gives them a reasonable and fair amount of time to qualify for permanent residency and that the policy is both consistent and coherent across all streams.

The full petition can be read here.