Organizations are preparing for a mass influx of Ukrainians by March 31. War in Ukraine

Canada's immigrant-welcoming agencies are bracing for a mass influx of Ukrainians before an emergency visa program for those fleeing the Russian invasion expires on March 31.

Starting in March 2022, Ottawa will issue 936,293 temporary emergency visas to Ukrainians who want to work or study in Canada while the war ends. Of this number, as of November 28, 210,178 people have actually come under it Canada-Ukraine Emergency Travel Authorization.

However, up to 90,000 of these emergency visa holders plan to come to Canada before the March 31 deadline, according to pre-arrival surveys conducted by the Operation Safe Haven organization for Ukrainians and Immigration Canada.

This will be a significant increase in the number of new Ukrainian arrivals compared to previous months, said Sarosh Rizvi, director of the reception organization.

When Russia launched its violent invasion of Ukraine in 2022, millions of people fled the country in search of safety. Canada has taken an exceptional approach by opening its doors to an unlimited number of Ukrainians and their loved ones through a new emergency visa program.

Compared to being in place for people arriving as refugees Traditional, few well-established support systems were on the ground to help Ukrainian newcomers get back on their feet. Citizens then rallied to donate clothing and furniture, businesses offered them jobs and some Canadians welcomed them into their homes.

But as Ukraine nears the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, that outpouring of support has waned somewhat. We don't have the common interests we had two years agoIn an interview on Wednesday, Mr. Rizvi agreed.

Concierge services put to the test

Support has gradually become institutionalized, Mr. Rizvi said. So reception services are better prepared to react now, but the expected influx will put a strain on their capacities.

I think every part of hospitality will be put to the testHe said, it's hotel capacity or food banks.

The other challenge is finding housing for these people, he said.

There is currently no great answer to this problem. This remains a requirement and is always handled on a case-by-case basis.

The organization is trying to encourage people who choose to arrive before the March 31 deadline to consider settling in smaller communities where housing is easier to find and more affordable.

Another host system, Pathfinders for Ukraine, helps refugees navigate the immigration system. The group also tries to reach out to Ukrainians abroad to assess whether their decision to come to Canada is in their favor.

It is a resource-intensive, expensive and emotionally taxing decision to cross an oceanRandall Baran-Chon, founder of the organization, said in an interview.

For many, Canada is the right choice, but for some it is not.

A few factors give newcomers the best chance to succeed in Canada, Mr. Baran-Chong noted, including their ability to adapt to their families, speak English or French, be willing to work and have savings to support themselves until they find it. employment.

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Last minute rush

Initially, Ukrainian refugees had until March 2023 to enter Canada, but then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser extended the deadline by a year just days before the deadline.

The Department of Immigration has seen a massive increase in the number of people arriving in Canada ahead of that first deadline, according to documents obtained from the department under the Access to Information Act.

In the last week of March 2023 alone, 8,000 people arrived on emergency visas.

There was also a last-minute rush to apply just before the government closed the program to new applications in July, the documents show.

I think we'll know how many people are actually using the visa at the end of this month, but we've already heard people talking about this move since September or October.

Ukrainians on special visas arriving after March 31 will still be welcome in Canada, but they will not be eligible for a three-year work or study permit and will not be eligible for any financial aid or welcome support.