Humanitarian & Compassionate Grounds Immigration Appeal

A humanitarian and compassionate application (H&C) allows persons to apply for permanent residence in Canada even though they may not otherwise be eligible. H&C applications are considered to be exceptional cases and are determined on a case-by-case basis. An immigration officer will consider various humanitarian factors such as:

• The establishment of the Applicant in Canada
• If the Applicant has family in Canada
• The best interests of any children involved
• Hardship that the Applicant may face in his or her home country

H&C applications can only be made when applying for permanent resident status in Canada or for a permanent resident visa from abroad. H&C factors are not considered for temporary residence applications. You can only have one H&C application considered at the same time.

It is important to note that an H&C officer will not assess risk linked to persecution, risk to life, cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. These factors can only be assessed in a refugee claim.

A refugee claim and an H&C application cannot be considered simultaneously. If you have a pending refugee claim, you must withdraw the claim before the hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). This does not apply to people with pending refugee claims who applied for H&Cs before June 28, 2012.

If you have made a refugee claim, an H&C application can only be made 12 months after you receive negative decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board. An abandoned or withdrawn refugee claim also counts as a negative decision. There are exceptions to this one year bar and they are as follows:

• removal from Canada would adversely affect children under the age of 18
• The Applicant or a dependant suffers from a life-threatening medical condition that cannot be treated in the home country

If you have been deemed a Designated Foreign National, you cannot apply for an H&C until five years have passed since:

• the day you were deemed a designated foreign national
• the IRB made a negative refugee decision
• the day you received a negative Pre-Risk Removal Assessment (PRRA)

If you were found to be a Designated Foreign National after applying for H&C, your application will be suspended for five years:

• from the day you were deemed a designated foreign national
• from the date of a negative IRB decision
• from the date of a negative PRRA decision

If you are ordered to leave Canada, you may be able to apply to stay on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. However, if you apply, this will not stop or delay your removal from Canada. You must still leave on or before the date stated on the removal order. Your application will be processed even if you have to leave Canada.

If your H&C application is rejected, you may apply to the Federal Court of Canada for a judicial review of your negative H&C.