Immigration authorities to help typhoon victims settle in Canada
December 02 2009 by Liam Clifford
Processing of typhoon victims to be given priority say Canadian immigration
Canadian immigration has announced that it is speeding up the
processing of over 400 Canadian visa applications from victims of Typhoon
Ketsana which hit the Philippines in September.
The authorities hope that
families of the loved ones living in Canada can offer the newcomers a new life
and that the victims will settle in Canada after their ordeal.
Canadian
immigration minister Jason Kenney says the processing of the applications will
be expedited. Since the typhoon hit, some 420 applications from victims who want
to move to Canada have qualified for priority processing.
Kenney stated,
“immediately after that [the typhoon] happened, on behalf of our government, I
announced that special measures would be in place to expedite immigration
processing for typhoon victims.” He continued, “we wanted to help reunite
victims with close family in Canada. I am happy to report that our government
kept its promise.”
Applications from victims who temporarily want to live
in Canada have also been forwarded for priority processing.
As of 29
November the priority processing scheme has ended and any applications received
after this date are to be processed in the standard way.
Kenney
concluded, “Canada has a proud tradition of helping Canadian citizens and
permanent residents reunite with their family members abroad when natural
disasters occur.”
Canadian immigration authorities have been criticised in the past for the time they take in processing visa applications.
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