Client services

1
Arrival Patterns
Government Assisted Refugees
Amila Smailbegovic, IR February 21st, 2007
2
GAR arrival patterns
2006 overview
3
1- Issues in Nairobi

• Problems obtaining Ethiopian visas for officers
  to conduct interviews
• Problems obtaining exit permits for refugees
• Delay in receiving medical results or delays due
  to TB treatment
• Insufficient / uneven referrals from UNHCR
• Making travel arrangements within budget during
  summer and winter

4
1- Singapore issues (Karen group)

• Outbreak of hemorrhagic conjunctivitis
• Pre-departure medicals (fit to fly)
• Coup detat and exit permits
• Passability of roads and rivers

5
1- Other mission issues

• Mail unreliability
• Delays in referrals
• Security screening delays (war crimes in Africa)
• Medical delays
• Travel arrangements and Exit permits
• Other processing priorities (GARs 3 of target)
• Technical difficulties, insufficient resources,
  temporary resident pressures, difficulties in
  contacting applicants, delays in submitting
  documents

6
Impacts on GAR arrivals
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2- Steps taken to address uneven GAR arrivals

• CIC urged UNHCR to refer cases early on in the
  year to help even out arrivals
• Missions asked to achieve 70 of GAR target
  before July 1st
• Importance of more even GAR arrivals stressed
  during IPM Conference in Nairobi in February
• Conference call to be held with missions to
  ensure their understanding of problem with late
  arrivals and to ensure that steps are taken to
  even out arrivals

8
2- Steps taken to address uneven GAR arrivals

• CIC negotiated quicker turn-around times with
  CBSA for security screening
• However, cannot deal with issues beyond our
  control or delay arrivals artificially to even
  out arrivals
• There will always be limits as wars or other
  calamities happen

9
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada
Thank you ! Send your comments or concerns
to Amila.smailbegovic_at_cic.gc.ca