A group of Hongkongers aiming to settle in Canada has formed a group to lobby for faster processing of permanent residency applications, as the backlog of cases from the city has surged to 18,000.
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The group’s representative said it would continue to press Ottawa to fulfil its promise of granting Hongkongers permanent residency via a special pathway, despite polls showing voters rating immigration levels as one of their top concerns during the federal election last month.
Donald Cheng Sheung-ching, one of the group’s organisers, said some members had filed for permanent residency as long ago as October 2023, waiting far longer for processing than the six months initially pledged by Ottawa.
The permanent residency pathway was launched in 2021 after Beijing imposed its national security law on Hong Kong. Applicants have two options: they must complete a two-year diploma or bachelor course at designated institutions, or if they are recent graduates, work full time for at least one year, or 1,560 hours.
The two options will remain available until at least August 31, 2026, and there is no cap on the number of applications.
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But with more people fulfilling the relevant requirements, the government is receiving a greater volume of applications.