Meeting with minister – Canada foreign minister Melanie Joly

Today the Sudanese Canadian Community Association (SCCA) met with Hon. Minister Ahmed Hussen and Hon. Minister Melanie Joly to speak about the situation in Sudan.

Important Updates:

• Sudanese nationals in Canada can apply for an extension of their status in Canada and move between temporary streams, granting them immediate access to work and study permits to enable them to continue studying, working or visiting family free of charge. Details to come in the days ahead.
• The Government of Canada will also prioritize the processing of completed
  temporary and permanent residence applications already in the system from people still in Sudan. This includes visitor visa applications for eligible immediate family members of Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents.
• Canada will also waive passport and permanent resident travel document fees for citizens and permanent residents of Canada in Sudan who wish to leave.
• Canada is hoping to use the current 72 hour ceasefire for evacuation of Canadian Citizens, permanent residents and non-Canadian nuclear family members from a safe location. Details will be communicated.
• To enable smooth execution of the above, Canadians in Sudan need to register with ROCA. Sudanese-Canadians with loved ones in Sudan may also register members ROCA on their behalf. Registration of Canadians Abroad
• Permanent Residents who are unable to register with ROCA may contact
  sos@international.gc.ca
• Cases of Canadians in Sudan without access to documents will be assessed on a case by case basis and potentially offered temporary visas.
• Government of Canada has been in close contact with neighboring countries (Kenya, Chad, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Egypt) to discuss safe passage agreements from Sudan
• Canadian Consular now in Djibouti working to ensure consular assistance is provided and humanitarian aid.
• We raised the need to further explore immigration pathways similar to previous responses by the Canadian government to humanitarian crises around the world.

The Sudanese Canadian Community Association (SCCA) is compiling a list of
Sudanese-Canadians currently in Sudan. If you have family or friends currently in Sudan, please contact info@sccassociation.ca with their names and detailed information. We will continue to work with appropriate government representatives to provide consistent and accurate information to Sudanese Canadians within Canada and abroad.

For the most up to date information, please visit:

• https://www.canada.ca/en/news.html
• https://twitter.com/melaniejoly
• Email: info@sccassociation.ca
• Website: www.sccassociation.ca

Sudanese Canadian Communities Association (SCCA)