Canada is speeding up the immigration process for those in the Philippines who have been significantly affected by Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy). Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced that Canada's visa office in the Philippines will put a priority on those affected by the disaster.
The priority applies to both new and existing applications from Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons who wish to sponsor close family members "directly and significantly" affected by the disaster in the Philippines. Applicants must identify themselves to Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
If it's a new sponsorship application, write "Philippines" clearly on the mailing envelope. For existing sponsorship applications, sponsors and applicants already in Canada should call the Citizenship and Immigration Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 to identify their applications if they have been significantly affected by the typhoon.
Applicants for temporary residence will be given priority by Canada's visa office in Manila once they show they have been significantly affected by the typhoon.
These measures are in addition to the pledge from the Canadian federal government of up to $5 million in humanitarian assistance to help those affected by Typhoon Ketsana. The Government of Manitoba also sent $100,000 to support the relief effort.
Photo: Flooding in Manila, Philippines After Typhoon Ketsana
U.S. Navy Handout / Getty Images
More on the Philippines and Typhoon Ketsana
Canadian Embassy in the Philippines
Canadian Visa and Immigration - Canadian Embassy in Philippines
Philippines Travel Warning - Foreign Affairs Canada
Comments
I have families in Ilocos Norte that are not affected by Typhoon Ketsana but were affected but not severely (yet..hopefully never) with the typhoon Pepeng. I am really worried of waking up one day with a news that they they have been affected with a landslide as my town is prone to it. Does anyone believe this is a measure to expedite application process as I would love to apply for my families so I don’t have to worry everyday.
Thanks for anyones feedback.
Hi Eleanor, have you applied already? The sooner you apply the sooner the Canadian government can look into your application. There is a loooong queue of immigration applications. Last year they expedited the processing of applications whose jobs are in the “hot” list. Now those affected by the typhoon, although it’s very specific to Ketsana/Ondoy only. You can always indicate that you are in a landslide/typhoon prone area but to be expedited is never a guarantee.
Hi Zee, thanks for the feedback. I have not sent my application yet as I am under the live-in caregiver program and will only complete 2 yrs of full-time employment by the end of October. Typhoon Pepeng has made it’s third landfall in my province, one landslide is currently happening 100 meters away, another 500 meters away and another landslide 5kms away, 200 meters behind our house is flooded and residents have been evacuated as well. Water is running infront of our house but is going a different direction flooding other houses but not ours as they barricated the entrance. I just thought of getting my family to take pictures of the surroundings and get it certified by the government to be true. Soon as I have the papers ready, I will submit my application.
hi,
can you clear-up about this proof of being affected by the typhoon, do i need a letter to whom or any evidence which is not mention in the article, i’ve sponsor my parents five years ago and up to now we are still waiting after their medical exam last february with two follow-ups for further evaluation as per advice from the embassy
I had a pending application which I applied as skilled worker immigrant since 2005, I was directly affected by typhoon ondoy, what should I do to fast tract my application.
thanks and God bless
hi! can i still sponsor my Father and my mother and two brothers even if they already have wife and kids ,kids are 4yrs of age ? They are affected by the typhoon ketsana too they live in between Marikina city and Antipolo City . they all live with my Parents. pls. response asap.
Hi zee,
My husband is working in Canada for almost 2 yrs now, caregiver. I’ve read about the fast tract application frm the internet.We are victims of the typhoon ketsana and until now our house is underwater.How can i immediately apply?Is this possible for us, i have 2 kids with me. Do i need to take fotos to prove that we are victims of the said typhoon. Where can I get the application form? Thank you for your urgent reply.
Goodmorning/goodafternoon to everyone, I have a question how can i sponsor my sister and her family. co’z they are affected with the typhoon pepeng/ondoy when i saw the new’s i can’t spleep co’z i see those people on the top of there house/specialy when on the computer that “Sto, Roasrio West Aringa La Union” Please Help me whtat is the best thing to do. co’s she have seven kids all their thing’s are gone please, responce thank and GOD BLESS YOU ALL”
hi.
good day to everyone, im a skilled worker here in vancouver canada and i about to file my PR application next month, do you think this would really help to expidite my papers my family is live in marikina city, and we are very affected by typhoon ondoy, my car and all our things was been damage. do i need a proof from a local gov in the philippines that we are affected of typhoon ondoy. please reply i realy need some hint. thank you
hi,i’m a skill worker here in north vancouver and i about to apply my PR application nxt month.my family live in quezon city.do you think i could apply for this?and also i have relative live in cainta rizal that was really affected by typhoon ondoy,all things and property was been damage.do you think this would help to expidite my papers?i really appreciate your kind.thank you and god bless…
This fast-tracking is a complete political sell-out of Canadians by the Conservative government. Harper’s Conservatives are desparate in the run-up to the next election. Yes, they know that ROP immigration is the junk food of the economy that will gives a quick growth “buzz” as immigrants buy cars, clothes, and furniture; but in the long run they will stress out Canada’s already over-burdened social welfare system. Just you wait for Harper to point to the “growth” stats – but in the back room he and his buddies also know that in a couple of years the schools, health structure, penisons and pensions will all be trashed. It would be much better to attack and expose the cause of the flooding, the corrupt, inept government and government system of the Philippines which can’t even take care of its own people. Of coure Harper isn’t looking for solutions, except to those that will keep him in power.
thank you for the info you gave to us madam but i has a question,,, because i has an aply for the live in a caregiver in canada im from bulacan who are in the state of calamity ,, i dont know how im going to do to be priorities my apply in canada,,also because of the typhoon are apply is easy to aproved? for example the speaktest for the live in caregiver is not belong now ?
my common-law and i sponsor a caregiver in the philippines which is affected by the typhoon, i spoke with him about the how’s his papers? he said thathe needs to renew his passport for the resdable one which is the new requirements and its under process now,but i don’t know how long it will take it.the reason is we want to help him more to come over here it canada because they lost almost half of thier needs also i find out the water is on thier waist line so all the things they have to use was garbage and he is the only child.i thnak god only him and his mother live in that house.gille michaud(common-law)and i whants to know how we could help him to come here in canada before its too late, and besides his papers is under process and also his mother what we could do to help his mother to come with him my family are willing to help her once she come to canada so atleast they where together and both of them they will have peace of mind.
carlito drapeza jr.(live-in caregiver)
i thank you, looking forward to hearing you and god bless you.
respectfully yours,
corazon abas / gille michaud
Hello Everybody,
This comment section is just for people to write any comments they have about the typhoon, the serious situation it has caused for many in the Philippines, and about the Canadian government’s action.
I write about the Canadian government; but I don’t work for them. I can’t answer questions on individual cases. If you need to find out more information about your specific situation, you will have to contact the Call Centre if you are in Canada, or the Canadian Embassy in Manila, if you are in the Philippines. The Call Centre number is in the article above. There is also a link to immigration information from the Canadian Embassy in Manila in the article. If you follow that link you will be able to find contact information for the embassy.
Please don’t post any of your personal information here (such as immigration file nos.). You should keep that information confidential.
Sorry I can’t be more help.
Susan
what are all we need to apply in canada??
hi, i’m from the province of abra. i just would like to know how to apply and what are the complete requirements to be submitted and where to submit. thank you.
For information on immigrating to Canada from the Phillipines, see the Visa and Immigration section of the Canadian Embassy in the Phillipines.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada has also posted answers to Frequently Asked Questions on Priority Processing in the Philippines on its Web site.
Susan
I filed for my PR last September.My hometown in La Trinidad was affected by the typhoon but my family was not affected.If another typhoon will come and this time they will be affected,will this be the time that the immigration expedite our papers? Why not expedite all applications while in process?
hi sir i have read about what you have published regarding the cause of typhoon PEPEng just want to ask if how will we apply going Canada since we have family there…
Hi! We keep waiting to the immigration result of my family in Philippines they are also affected of Ondoy last year so I made this comment here in hoping that you help me I already applied my PR status in May 15, 2009 and I am done to my medical exam. I thought you help those family affected? Our house in Philippines the roof was flew by the typhoon and also the water get in to the house. We lived in area of Bagbag Novaliches Quezon City, Thats not only the things I already gave birth here in Canada, Its hard to be alone and I need help to my husband. I went vacation last year March and I came here and I bear a child I know this is gift of God, although I suffer in our needs I cant work because she’s little baby. Pls. help me. Thank you.
hello, i live in marulas valenzuela city, i was one of the affected person, last year , im not able to apply that time because im working on my document papers and my business was also affected, im self employed and my brother whose a canadian citizen now helping me processed my application by means of skilled worker application, im working on my documents that were required as first step. i there a chance or way that can speedup may processing? thank you.
hi good morning.
im starting to apply as immigrant in canada. im a dentist from meycauayan,bulacan. im planning to apply directly to embaccy, how can i start? were also affected typhoon ondoy. ihave already a form now. what are the reqiurements needed to proof that i am a typhoon ondoy victim. please do response immediately thank you..