Canadians urged to honor commitment on granting permanent residency to Hongkongers
Hongkongers' Long Wait for Canada Permanent Residency
A group of aspiring Canadian residents from Hong Kong has taken matters into their own hands, creating a lobbying group to expedite the processing of permanent residency applications. The current backlog, which now stands at an alarming 18,000 cases, has become a pressing concern.
The group's spokesperson remains undeterred, vowing to hold the Canadian government accountable for its commitment to offer Hongkongers a swift route to permanent residency via a special pathway. Even amidst voter concerns about immigration levels following the recent federal election, the group remains persistent.
Donald Cheng Sheung-ching, one of the organizers, expressed frustration as some members have been waiting since October 2023 for their applications to be processed. Initially, Ottawa promised processing within six months, a deadline now long passed for many.
This special pathway was established in 2021 in response to Beijing's implementation of its national security law in Hong Kong. Applicants can either complete a two-year diploma or bachelor's degree at designated Canadian institutions or, for recent graduates, work full-time for at least a year (1,560 hours). The educational and work experience options will remain available until at least August 31, 2026, with no limitation on the number of applications.
However, the influx of applicants who meet the criteria has brought about an unprecedented influx of applications, leading to the backlog and longer-than-expected waiting times.
[1] Source: Enrichment Data - Overall: Backlog in Processing Permanent Residency Applications for Hongkongers. The Backlog in Processing Permanent Residency Applications for Hongkongers stems primarily from a substantial surge in the number of applications, resulting in a current backlog of over 18,000 cases, with processing sometimes taking up to 18 months. This goes beyond Ottawa's initial pledge of six months. The heightened interest in this pathway is a response to concerns about political stability in Hong Kong due to Beijing's enforcement of its national security law.
[1] Source: Enrichment Data - Requirements for the Special Pathway. The special pathway for Hongkongers, introduced in 2021, offers an opportunity for permanent residency in Canada. To qualify, applicants must either complete a two-year diploma or bachelor's degree at designated Canadian institutions or, for recent graduates, work full-time for at least one year (1,560 hours). These options will remain available until at least August 31, 2026, with no cap on applications. Yet, the growing number of applicants meeting these requirements has contributed significantly to the backlog and extended processing times.
- The group's persistent efforts, despite voter concerns about immigration levels in politics and policy-and-legislation, aim to hold the Canadian government accountable for addressing the backlog, which currently stands at 18,000 cases in the general news of Hongkongers' Long Wait for Canada Permanent Residency.
- The ongoing backlog in processing permanent residency applications for Hongkongers, primarily caused by a substantial surge in applications, has raised concerns in the field of general news, as some applicants have been waiting since October 2023, going beyond Ottawa's initial pledge of six months, leading to a backlog of over 18,000 cases.
