ARCHIVED – Backgrounder — Typhoon Haiyan: Frequently asked questions

Q1: What is CIC doing in response to Typhoon Haiyan?

A1. CIC is currently carrying out a number of measures in response to Typhoon Haiyan, with an emphasis on providing priority processing for family members of Canadians and permanent residents who are from the affected areas and are significantly affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

CIC is:

• Providing priority processing for applicants from affected areas who are affected by the Typhoon, on request;
• Providing priority processing for adopted dependants of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, on request;
• Providing priority processing for new and existing applications for citizenship certificates (proof of citizenship) and permanent resident cards, on request;
• Monitoring messages received in the electronic immigration mailboxes (manila-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca; Situation-Philippines@cic.gc.ca and Question@cic.gc.ca) to identify priority cases from affected areas;
• Assessing overseas new temporary resident visa applications from those in affected areas and who are family members of Canadians and permanent residents; and
• Assessing in-Canada temporary resident extension applications, including visitors, workers and students from applicants of Filipino origin.

Q2: Who can apply for priority processing?

A2. Priority processing is available to those who identify themselves as being significantly affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in the following categories and request priority processing:

• Family members of Canadians and permanent residents who are from the affected areas on request;
• New and existing applications for citizenship certificates (proof of citizenship) and permanent resident cards, on request; and
• Adopted dependants of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, on request.

Q3: Who is considered significantly affected?

A3. Significantly affected persons are those who have lost family members, property and/or livelihood due to Typhoon Haiyan.

Q4: How can I identify that I’m significantly affected by the Typhoon?

Overseas (Resident in the Philippines):

Existing Application: If you have an existing application please fill out this form. Please indicate how you have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the “enquiry” section.

New Application:

If you are applying electronically (visit, study work only) and requesting priority processing:

• Submit your application online; then
• Send an email to manila-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca with the following information:
  • How you have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan;
  • The region that you are in;
  • Your name (family and given);
  • Date of birth;
  • Type of application (student, worker, visitor, Permanent Residence in Canada);
  • Client ID;
  • File #; and
  • Telephone number (optional).

If you are submitting an application at a Visa Application Centre (visit, study work only) please advise the client service agent that you are requesting priority processing and include the following information:

• How you have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan;
• The region that you are in.

If you are submitting a paper application and requesting priority processing please write “Urgent-Philippines” on the outside of the envelope and include the following information:

• How you have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan; and
• The region that you are in.

In Canada:

Existing Applications: Applicants who have already submitted an application should contact situation-philippines@cic.gc.ca or contact CIC’s Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100.

Please include the following information:

• How you have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan;
• The region that you are in;
• Your name (family and given);
• Date of birth;
• Type of application (student, worker, visitor, Permanent Residence in Canada);
• Client ID (optional);
• File # (optional) and
• Telephone number (optional).

New Application:

If you are applying electronically (visit, study or work only) and request priority processing:

• Submit your application online; then
• Send an email to situation-philippines@cic.gc.ca with the following information:
  • How you have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan;
  • The region that you are in;
  • Your name (family and given);
  • Date of birth;
  • Type of application (student, worker, visitor, Permanent Residence in Canada);
  • Client ID;
  • File #;and
  • Telephone number (optional).

If you are submitting a paper application and requesting priority processing please write “Urgent-Philippines” on the outside of the envelope and include the following information:

• How you have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan; and
• The region that you are in.

Q5: Can I sponsor my parents or grandparents?

A5. The new Parents and Grandparents program is not re-opening until January 2014. Our focus right now is on addressing urgent requests from those directly affected by the typhoon.

In the meantime, parents and grandparents looking to visit their families in Canada for an extended period of time can continue to use the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa.

Q6: What direct help is CIC offering to affected Canadians in the Philippines?

A6. We are issuing Emergency Travel Documents to affected Canadians for return to Canada, as appropriate, as well as waiving the requirement for affected Canadians to provide proof of travel.

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