IRCC confirms priority processing remains in place for Hong Kong Pathway applicants

Hong Kong Watch Canada is following up on the issue of delay in processing permanent residency (PR) applications under Stream A and Stream B of the Hong Kong Pathway. There have been important developments in the issue in recent days.

Aileen Calverley, co-founder and Trustee of Hong Kong Watch, has been in touch with the Associate Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Hong Kong Pathway team at IRCC in Ottawa, about the issue. Our representative also met with the Deputy Minister of IRCC, Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar. Both Ministers have confirmed that PR applications under the Hong Kong Pathway are a processing priority for IRCC.

According to the Associate Deputy Minister, the processing times for both Stream A and Stream B were 6.5 months as of 29 February 2024. The Deputy Minister noted the lack of processing slots due to a higher volume of applications. He suggested that Open Work Permit (OWP) holders extend their permits. However, the existing policy does not include a bridge while applicants are waiting for a decision on their PR application.

Aileen Calverley is communicating with the Associate Deputy Minister and the Hong Kong Pathway team and working on a proposal to solve the issue. The Associate Deputy Minister has said that IRCC is working diligently on a resolution.

Hong Kong Watch urges IRCC to:

  1. Increase the capacity to handle thousands of applications, given there have been over 3,000 Stream A applications and over 4,000 Stream B applications since May 2023 and August 2023 respectively; and

  2. Introduce a bridge for the Open Work Permit under the Hong Kong Pathway so that OWP holders can extend their permits without applying for new permits.

Hong Kong Watch has recently assisted several applicants facing emergencies with obtaining PR status. We will continue to monitor the situation and help those in emergencies.

加拿大移民部確認「香港救生艇 Hong Kong Pathway」永居申請設有特快處理（priority processing）措施

加拿大香港監察正致力跟進「香港救生艇 Hong Kong Pathway」Stream A、Stream B永久居留申請處理延誤問題，近日取得重要進展。

香港監察共同創辦人兼信託人Aileen Calverley一直就有關問題與加拿大副副移民部長及渥太華移民部「香港救生艇 Hong Kong Pathway」專責團隊聯絡，另有代表會見副移民部長Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar。兩位部長一致確認，「香港救生艇 Hong Kong Pathway」永居申請設有特快處理（priority processing）措施。

根據副副移民部長所講，截至2024年2月29日，Stream A、Stream B永居申請平均處理時間為六個半月。副移民部長則指出，由於申請個案增加，現有處理時段不足。他建議開放式工作簽證（Open Work Permit，簡稱OWP）持有人延長簽證。然而，現行政策並沒有空窗期過渡（bridge）措施。

Aileen Calverley正與副副移民部長及「香港救生艇 Hong Kong Pathway」專責團隊溝通，並制訂解決方案。副副移民部長表示，移民部正奮力解決問題。

香港監察促請移民部：

  1. 增加資源處理過千宗申請，因自2023年5月起已有超過3,000宗Stream A申請，自2023年8月起已有超過4,000宗Stream B申請；及

  2. 增設「香港救生艇 Hong Kong Pathway」開放式工作簽證過渡措施，讓OWP持有人毋須申請新簽證即可延長有效期。

香港監察近日協助了數名有緊急情況的申請人取得永居。我們會繼續關注事態發展，並協助有緊急情況的申請人。

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