Canada: Information on whether Yugoslavs who arrived in Canada on a visitor's visa before 30 June 1992 have to pay a fee or need to have a qualified relative in Canada in order to apply for residence under the special programme for those affected by the war in the former Yugoslavia
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CAN15689.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Canada: Information on whether Yugoslavs who arrived in Canada on a visitor's visa before 30 June 1992 have to pay a fee or need to have a qualified relative in Canada in order to apply for residence under the special programme for those affected by the war in the former Yugoslavia, 1 October 1993, CAN15689.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abf093.html [accessed 22 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to an officer of the Refugee Affairs Branch of the Department of Immigration in Ottawa, a Yugoslav who entered Canada before 30 June 1992 can apply for Canadian residence under the special programme for citizens of the former Yugoslavia (26 Oct. 1993). Although the programme "relaxes" the qualification criteria for a residence visa, meaning that fewer points than usual are required, the medical and criminal background grounds for exemption still apply (Ibid.). The applicant must also pay a fee for having the residence application processed (Ibid.). This last requirement seems to have encouraged many Yugoslavs in Canada to opt for filing claims for refugee status, since the processing of the claim and possible eventual granting of a resident visa are free of charge (Ibid.).
The source added that Yugoslavs in Canada can apply for residence under the special programme without the sponsorship of a relative residing in Canada (Ibid.). The sponsorship of a qualified relative in Canada, however, may improve the chances of having the application approved, though all applications stand a good chance of being approved unless some impediments like medical or criminal background grounds for exemption are found (Ibid.).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Department of Immigration, Ottawa. 26 October 1993. Telephone interview with Refugee Affairs officer.
