Assisted voluntary returns pilot program

Many failed asylum claimants do not respect their obligation to leave, and face deportation and a permanent bar on returning to Canada.

Many of these people are not properly educated on what will happen if they do not leave Canada after a failed claim. Others are not financially able to arrange their return or support themselves when they go back to their home country.

The Assisted Voluntary Returns (AVR) pilot program will address these issues by increasing education and counselling for failed asylum claimants. The program will also provide limited financial assistance to a third party which will use the funds to help a person return to their home country. This is a common approach in other countries, and has been proven to result in faster removals and cost savings.

In addition, under the AVR pilot program, asylum claimants will have to provide travel documents or fill out a travel document application at the time they make their claim. This will help with removals, as a lack of travel documents is a key obstacle.

This pilot program will run for four years out of the Greater Toronto Area and will begin after the new asylum system takes effect. It will initially be available for people returning to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

For more information regarding this program, visit the Canada Border Services Agency website.