Ukrainian Family Support Desk Launched to Help Ukrainians

  • Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

March 2, 2022

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with family members or relatives in Ukraine looking for safe haven in this province are encouraged to connect with the new Ukrainian Family Support Desk staffed by the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism. Ukrainian Family Support Desk staff are equipped with extensive knowledge of immigration and temporary resident pathways.

Examples of services the Support Desk can provide include:

  • Assisting individuals with family reunification and sponsorship through referrals to federal pathways;
  • Directing Ukrainians who wish to work in the province to employment opportunities; and,
  • Connecting with employers who wish to offer employment opportunities to Ukrainians.

The contact email for the Helpdesk is ukrainianfamily@gov.nl.ca. For information on the options available to assist Ukrainian relatives and families, see the backgrounder below.

Quote
“The pre-meditated and condemnable Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought calamity to the Ukrainian people and distress to the global community. Our duty of citizenship calls us to work with our residents who have family and friends in Ukraine to support Ukrainians.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

– 30 –

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Media contact
Jeremy Reynolds
Immigration, Population Growth and Skills
709-729-2377, 709-691-2298
jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Options Available to Assist Ukrainian Relatives and Families
Refugee status in Canada is determined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Government of Canada. Transportation to Canada and settlement supports are provided for Government-Assisted Refugees by the Government of Canada. For details on the UNHCR’s work in Ukraine, please visit UNHCR Ukraine and see a news release from March 1, 2022.

To assist individuals to bring Ukrainian relatives and families to the province, at present the following options are available.

Provincial Jurisdiction
Provincial Nominee Program / Atlantic Immigration Program: Employers in Newfoundland and Labrador who are experiencing labour shortages and who have been unable to find qualified local workers may avail of provincial immigration pathways (Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program) to bring workers from abroad.

Federal Jurisdiction
Visitor Visa: Individuals abroad who have family in Newfoundland and Labrador and wish to visit for a short period of time can pursue the visitor visa option.

Family Sponsorship: This pathway, fully administered by the Government of Canada, helps individuals bring family to Canada, through a sponsorship application process. For more information on how the Government of Canada is assisting Ukrainians, please see Immigration measures for people affected by the invasion of Ukraine.

2022 03 02 1:40 pm