The Canadian government has provided relief regarding visa rules for Punjabis living in Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented six new rules of Bill C-12. Under the new rules, a refugee claim can now be filed within 14 days of arriving in Canada.
According to IRCC, these changes have been made to reduce the burden of increasing applications in the system, eliminate administrative delays and streamline the immigration system. This will help those in need get protection in a timely manner.
Changes in rules; A person can now make an asylum claim within one year of arriving in Canada. If a claim is filed after one year of arrival, their case will not be sent to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) and they will be considered ineligible. In addition, if a person crosses the US-Canada border through any route other than an authorized checkpoint, they will have to file a claim for asylum within 14 days. Claims made after 14 days will not be considered.
In order to make the refugee system faster and easier, online applications are now being encouraged. The government will only accept applications that are fully documented, avoiding unnecessary delays in the process. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IRCC) now has the legal authority to share information related to refugees with other government departments (both provincial and federal). This aims to improve coordination across government services and strengthen security.
In addition, the government now has broad powers to cancel, suspend or amend documents such as visas, work permits or study permits in the public interest. The government must notify Parliament before making any such decision. In addition, there is a security option for people who are found ineligible for asylum due to the new rules. This is called a pre-removal risk assessment, which ensures that no one is returned to a country where they would be at risk of their life or persecution.
