On April 22, 2022, MKS founder and managing partner Alex Stojicevic wrote an article about Canada’s response to the Ukrainian migrant crisis for the International Bar Association (IBA). Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, millions of people have left their home country. To support Ukrainians in need, Canada has responded with changes to immigration processes allowing Ukrainians to find safety and supports in Canada quickly. The article is summarized below.

Canadian Visa requirements in response to Ukrainian migrant crisis

Changes that have been made to support the Ukrainian migrant crisis include less strict visa requirements to show financial ties to Ukraine, removing the cap on how many migrants Canada can accept for visas, work and study applications, and waiving processing fees. These changes are streamlining the process for Ukrainians leaving their homes to find safety in Canada.

Support for Ukrainians living in Canada

When in Canada, Ukrainians can also access supports as a temporary resident including education for their children, language training, job search support and skills training, plus translation services and access to information in Ukrainian and Russian.

In addition, Ukrainians that were already living in Canada under a temporary status are being allowed to renew or apply for study or work permits at no cost.

The approach Canada is taking to support the Ukrainian migrant crisis aligns with the IBA Immigration & Nationality Committee Emergency Evacuation visa model, and is based on consultation with the Canadian Bar Association, Canadian settlement service providers and community groups.

Read the full article by Alex about Canada’s response to the Ukrainian migrant crisis on the IBA website.

The IBA has more than 80,000 members from most of the world’s leading law firms across more than 170 countries. The IBA was founded in 1947 after the creation of the United Nations with a goal of contributing to global stability and peace through the administration of justice. Through its global membership and expertise, the IBA influences the development of international law reform and provide assistance to the global legal community.  

Alex has more than 24 years of experience as an immigration lawyer. He is the founding and managing partner of MKS Immigration Lawyers and has worked as an Adjunct Professor at UBC Law School where he occasionally guest lectures. Alex advises human resources departments and major companies on immigration and foreign work matters and is heavily involved with the Canadian Bar Association.

The team at MKS Immigration Lawyers specializes in Canadian immigration and citizenship law and has more than 70 years of combined experience. On April 29, 2022, MKS was recognized as one of the top immigration law boutiques in Canada by Canadian Lawyers Magazine. MKS  offers services for individuals, companies, universities, not-for-profits and other law firms.

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