Key Takeaways:
- Thousands of Ukrainians who fled to Canada due to the Russian invasion are struggling to achieve permanent residency status
- The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program has helped many Ukrainians escape the war, but it does not provide a clear path to permanent residency
- Ukrainians who came to Canada under the CUAET program face multiple barriers, including rotating application deadlines, uncertainly about their status, and limited access to education and healthcare
- The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship ministry has announced that Ukrainians who came to Canada under the CUAET program have until the end of March to apply to renew various work, study and visitor permits
- Many Ukrainians are facing massive backlogs in their applications for permanent residency, with some receiving estimates of 50 years to process their application
Introduction to the Crisis
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to a massive influx of refugees fleeing to other countries, including Canada. Viktoria Galas, a single mother, and her son Demian, were among those who escaped the war and found refuge in Canada. They celebrated Demian’s 11th birthday in a car, waiting in line to cross the border from Ukraine into Poland. Galas had fled with her son to escape the Russian bombs falling near their home in Lviv. Today, Galas works as a business analyst for the same company she worked for in Ukraine, and Demian is doing well in school and is a member of the 862 Lambeth Lightning Royal Air Cadet Squadron. However, despite building a new life in Canada, Galas and many other Ukrainians remain in a state of immigration limbo, with no clear path to permanent residency status.
Life in Limbo
Galas, like many other Ukrainians who came to Canada, is grateful for the safety and security that the country has provided. However, she and her son face a constant barrage of application deadlines for everything from passport renewals to immigration paperwork, to entry visa updates. The uncertainty and stress of not knowing what the future holds are taking a toll on them. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship ministry has announced that Ukrainians who came to Canada under the CUAET program have until the end of March to apply to renew various work, study and visitor permits. However, these permits only extend to September 2027, with no guarantee of an extension. Galas has applied to become a permanent resident through the humanitarian and compassionate stream, but the program is facing massive backlogs, with some people receiving estimates of 50 years to process their application.
Barriers to Permanent Residency
Galas and many other Ukrainians who came to Canada under the CUAET program face multiple barriers to achieving a secured, certain, and long-term path to stay legally in Canada. The so-called fast entry program is not a viable option for Galas, as success is based on a score that measures everything from work experience to English skills, but also factors in age and marital status. Galas would like her son to attend post-secondary school, but as a foreign student, he would be subject to much higher tuition fees and no access to the Registered Education Savings Plan. Everything in their lives is temporary, with an expiry date, making it difficult for them to plan for the future. Galas applied to extend her son’s visitor visa in March and didn’t receive it until January this year, a stressful wait that affected their access to Ontario health insurance coverage.
A Call for Clarity
Galas believes that she and other Ukrainians who have made Canada their home deserve clarity and certainty about their status. The uncertainty and stress of not knowing what the future holds are taking a toll on them. Luba Zamorska, a law professor who fled Ukraine and is now teaching at Western’s law school, agrees. She often gives informal advice to fellow Ukrainians who are struggling to navigate the rules, renewals, and application deadlines. Zamorska says that returning to Ukraine, with war still raging, is not a safe option, and that families are in a state of limbo, waiting for a decision on their applications. Svitlana Stoiko-Hota, who came to London with her nine-year-old son in 2022, feels the same way, saying that they are pursuing a peaceful childhood, sense of security, and hope for the future in Canada.
Conclusion
The story of Galas and her son Demian is just one of many examples of the challenges faced by Ukrainians who have fled to Canada due to the Russian invasion. Despite building new lives in Canada, they remain in a state of immigration limbo, with no clear path to permanent residency status. The Canadian government must provide clarity and certainty to these individuals, who have made Canada their home and are contributing to the country’s economy and society. The massive backlogs in the application process must be addressed, and a more efficient and fair system must be put in place to allow Ukrainians to achieve permanent residency status and build a secure future in Canada.
