CUAET Ukraine

CUAET Ukraine

Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, civil people become the targets of the enemies’ missiles and even thermobaric and cluster bombs. While men protect Ukraine from the Russian invaders, women with children and elderly people have to leave their homes and look for a safe place abroad. All the world stands with Ukraine and offers shelters for people affected by the war.

Canada and Ukraine have a long-lasting bilateral relationship since Canada is home to the biggest Ukrainian diaspora in the world. Apart from the armament and diplomatic support, the Government of Canada has created the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET). CUAET Ukraine offers Ukrainian citizens and their family members to get extended temporary resident status free of charge. According to the regulations of CUAET Ukraine, family members of Ukrainian nationals include the spouse, common-law partner, their dependent child, and the dependent child of their spouse, common-law partner, or a dependent child. Then, they can stay, work and study in Canada until they can return home. Nevertheless, all CUAET Ukraine applicants are subject to visa and travel requirements, background checks (including biometrics) and security screening.

CUAET Ukraine aims to ensure Ukrainian citizens and their family members with the following regulations.

1. Ukrainians will have most of their application and processing fees waived. It means that citizens of Ukraine do not have to pay the visa application fee, biometric collection fee, work and study permit application fees, visitor extension, work and study permit renewal fees.
2. Under CUAET Ukraine, applications of Ukrainian citizens will get prioritized processing.
3. Ukrainian citizens and their family members will be able to apply for permanent residency under different immigration programs and streams if they meet the requirements of the chosen program. The most popular streams among Ukrainian citizens are the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Provincial Nominee Program, and Express Entry streams.
4. Immediate and extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents from Ukraine who want to settle in the country can apply for a special family reunification sponsorship pathway for permanent residence. Currently, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) is developing the simplified procedure of the program.
5. Ukrainian residents and their family members who do not have a passport or it is expired can ask IRCC to issue a single journey travel document and a temporary resident permit to enter Canada. Nevertheless, it can be done under exceptional circumstances and depends on the situation of the Ukrainian applicant. IRCC also has discretionary authority to help in-Canada applicants from Ukraine with missing documents.
6. Citizens of Ukraine can contact IRCC by phone or web form and get qualified help. Currently, the officers prioritize immigration-related questions from people affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and people who contact IRCC on behalf of someone who is affected. Moreover, Ukrainians can sign up to get email updates on immigration programs, priority processing for affected people, and other vital information about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It is worth highlighting the features and benefits of CUAET Ukraine for Ukrainian residents and their family members who enter Canada.

1. They have a right to apply for a three-year visitor visa free of charge. The standard visitor visa for other foreign citizens is valid for six months.
2. Ukrainians can apply for an open work permit within their visa application free of charge. Foreign residents do not have a right to work in Canada without the required documents. Hence, CUAET Ukraine helps Ukrainians to get an open work permit and find work as quickly as possible.
3. The officers of CUAET Ukraine process the electronic visa application of Ukrainian citizens within 14 days.
4. It is worth mentioning that Under CUAET Ukraine, applicants are not required to fulfill entry requirements concerning COVID-19, but they must meet other public health requirements. Travelers must also use ArriveCAN and provide mandatory travel information before and after the entry to the country.
5. Citizens of Ukraine are exempt from submitting an immigration medical exam (IME) before arrival to Canada. However, the officers of IRCC can ask them to complete a medical diagnostic test within 90 days of arrival in the country that includes the screen of reportable communicable diseases.

Furthermore, CUAET Ukraine aims to help Ukrainian citizens and their family members who already have temporary residence status in Canada.

1. They can apply to extend their temporary resident status for up to three years.
2. Ukrainians have a right to leave and return to Canada at any time while they have a valid visa.
3. CUAET Ukraine allows Ukrainians to apply for a new work or study permit free of charge.
4. Citizens of Ukraine can renew their work or study permit free of charge.
5. Ukrainian children have a right to attend elementary and secondary school in Canada.
6. The officers of IRCC may ask Ukrainians to submit and pay for an IME if they have not completed it before their trip to Canada.

It is hard to overestimate the significance of CUAET Ukraine in helping people affected by the Russian war in Ukraine. However, it is not a refugee immigration stream. There is a cap on the number of applications for settlement as a refugee and streams for permanent residence, while CUAET Ukraine processes all visa, work, and study applications from Ukrainians. Nevertheless, Ukrainians and their family members can work or study in Canada and gain valuable work or education experience. If they meet the admission requirements of the chosen immigration program, they can get permanent residence status and settle in Canada.

As it was mentioned above, Ukrainian citizens and their family members can work for most employers in Canada. The Government of Canada encourages employers to register available jobs for Ukrainians on the Job Bank’s Jobs for Ukraine webpage. It is a free governmental website that connects Canadian employers with thousands of potential employees and offers a secure space for job postings. Hence, citizens of Ukraine who have an open work permit can find employment on the Job Bank website.

Due to an increased volume of requests from Ukrainian residents, IRCC has also increased the operational readiness of European offices. It includes staff relocation and additional supplies and equipment, such as mobile biometric collection kits. IRCC also adjusts operations in European offices to provide quality services, such as CUAET Ukraine.

Moreover, citizens of Ukraine can submit applications online on the official website of IRCC. Please visit IRCC’s Ukraine immigration measures page to find more information on CUAET Ukraine and apply for special visitor visas, study and work permits. Moreover, Ukrainian citizens can find updated information on how to enter Canada, how to bring family members to the country, how to apply for CUAET Ukraine, how to settle in the country, how to extend the stay in the country, and how the Government of Canada responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Canadian government and IRCC continue to discuss with provinces, territories, and their partners how they can help and support citizens of Ukraine and their family members, including settlement services and humanitarian aid.

Due to the rising fraudulent activity, Ukrainian citizens must be cautious and get information about CUAET Ukraine only on the official website of the Canadian government. Agents or consultants do not act on behalf of the IRCC. Moreover, Ukrainian citizens and their family members must not trust unauthorized people who ask to pay for participation in CUAET Ukraine or other programs. Currently, the majority of the processing fees are waived. Only the Government of Canada and officers of IRCC can request personal information or make a decision on the eligibility of the Ukrainian citizens for CUAET Ukraine.

 

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