Canada efforts with Afghanistan crisis exemplary – AfriCanada.com

Canada efforts with Afghanistan crisis is simply exemplary.

Canada remains committed to Afghanistan and the Afghan people and it will continue to support them.

Very laudably, Canada is implementing special programs for Afghans who assisted Canada.

Canada is closely monitoring developments in Afghanistan. Canada is also coordinating its response with international partners accordingly.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canada has no plans to recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. The Taliban took over and replaced a duly elected democratic government by force.

The Taliban is a listed terrorist entity under Canadian law.

Canada efforts with Afghanistan crisis

On August 15, 2021, Canada announced suspension of diplomatic operations in Afghanistan.

Furthermore, as part of the initiative, Canada put in place special facilitative measures for Afghans currently in Canada. These include:

Family reunification with Afghanistan who are Canadian citizens or PRs

Canada cherishes keeping families and loved ones together. This is why Canada has robust family sponsorship programs.

See also Canada Immigration Parents Sponsorship Program and Canada parental sponsorship – 2020 Guidelines.

Canada prioritizes your Afghanistan family sponsorship application if you’re a:

• Canadian citizen
• permanent resident in Canada
• protected person in Canada

You can apply now to sponsor eligible family members under this special measure. Find out how to sponsor

• your spouse, partner or dependent child (including adopted children)
• orphaned relatives under the age of 18

If you have questions or need help contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at IRCC.SituationAfghanistan.IRCC@cic.gc.ca.

Measures for Afghanistan who are temporary residents in Canada

Canada also prioritizes your application to extend your temporary resident status if you’re an Afghan national currently in Canada as a:

• temporary worker
• student
• visitor

Canada has announced the resettlement of up to 20,000 vulnerable Afghan nationals to Canada. This will be done through

• a special immigration program for Afghan nationals, and their families, who assisted the Government of Canada
• a special humanitarian program focused on resettling Afghan nationals who are outside of Afghanistan and who don’t have a durable solution in a third country, which will include people such as
  • women leaders
  • human rights advocates
  • LGBTI individuals
  • journalists and people who assisted Canadian journalists
  • immediate family members of one of the above
  • extended family members of previously resettled interpreters who assisted the Government of Canada

You don’t need to currently be in Afghanistan or return to Afghanistan to be eligible or to have your application processed.

Other measures for Afghans in Canada

Canada is also putting in place other special facilitative measures for Afghans currently in Canada. Find out how Canada prioritizes family sponsorship applications and temporary resident extensions for Afghans.

You can contact IRCC by email with questions about

• the immigration program for Afghans who assisted the Government of Canada: Canada-Afghanistan@international.gc.ca
• the humanitarian program to resettle Afghans outside of Afghanistan: IRCC.SituationAfghanistan.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
• reuniting Afghan nationals with their families in Canada: IRCC.SituationAfghanistan.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

By phone at +1-613-321-4243

• Available both inside Canada and abroad
• Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (ET)
• We’ll accept charges for collect calls or calls with reverse charges

How Canadians can help Canada efforts with Afghanistan crisis

How to volunteer and donate

Many refugees need extra help getting settled in Canada. Supportive social networks and service provider organizations are a key part of this.

Through these networks and organizations, refugees can

• get information
• find housing and jobs
• improve their language skills
• get involved in the community
• gain critical cultural knowledge
• receive emotional and other support

If you’d like to help refugees arriving in Canada, you can volunteer or donate (clothing, furniture, or money) by

• emailing afghaniresettlement@ccislive.ca to connect with Canadian refugee resettlement agencies providing support to Afghan refugees
• contacting a local service provider organization

How to sponsor an Afghan refugee

You can help Afghan refugees by sponsoring them to come to Canada. There are different ways you can sponsor a refugee:

• by working with a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) as a constituent group
• as a Group of Five

As a group, you can sponsor a

• specific refugee or refugee family
• refugee referred by a visa office abroad

Find out more about how to become a Group of Five or find an SAH.