Ukrainian Families in Halifax Face Up to 55‑Year Wait for Permanent Residency

Halifax Ukrainian Family Faces Potential 55-Year Wait for Canadian Permanent Residency

Breaking in Halifax: A Ukrainian family learning they may wait decades to secure permanent residency under a humanitarian pathway has spotlighted a backlog that manny newcomers now confront. The family’s ordeal underscores a broader immigration bottleneck that officials say they are trying to manage while balancing humanitarian commitments.

What happened to the Zadoretskyys

Oleh Zadoretskyy, his wife, and their two daughters arrived in Halifax in March 2023. They fled the war in Ukraine after living in Latvia, where they feared a broader regional escalation. Their hope was to build a peaceful life in Canada, where a relative is a citizen.

Today, the family is living with the reality that the processing time for their permanent residency under a humanitarian and compassionate path could stretch for years into the future. Zadoretskyy says the situation has upended plans for stability, especially for his daughters, who are now nine and 14 and consider Halifax home.

Daughters,permits,and day-to-day worries

The couple’s three-year work permit remains valid,but both children hold visitor permits that expire in March. An update on renewal has not arrived despite a request a year ago. Without valid paperwork, the girls cannot obtain health cards or enroll in school in the near term.

“I don’t want Canada to give me money or public assistance. I just want stability for my family,” said Oleh, showing the documents that will soon need renewal. The family’s situation is emblematic of many who navigate this pathway while juggling everyday needs and long-term plans.

Backlog on display: The numbers behind processing times

Canada’s processing-time estimator shows the family’s file could be considered only after more than four years. In a broader queue, roughly 48,900 files are waiting for processing alongside Ukrainian cases. An immigration lawyer who works with clients in Halifax notes that people feel “the rug is being pulled out from under them” as wait times extend and statuses remain uncertain.

Officials say the 55-year estimate represents a worst-case scenario for those applying today, not a prediction of every future case. The government aims to process 80 percent of applications within service standards, but the surge in Ukrainian-related applications has outpaced available spots within the immigration levels plan.

The family’s daughters see Halifax as home for now.

Why this is happening—and what it means for families

Officials point to a mismatch between the number of Ukrainian applications and the number of spots available in Canada’s immigration plan. The department maintains that the processing-time figure reflects today’s conditions and that steps are being taken to restore balance and sustainability while honoring humanitarian commitments.

What this means for families on the ground

Immigration lawyers say many clients are pursuing alternate pathways to remain in Canada,while some worry about losing status if long delays persist without viable alternatives. The Zadoretskyys have not ruled out other options, but every path comes with cost and uncertainty.

Key facts at a glance

Item	Details
Current queue	Approximately 48,900 files waiting in the same processing queue
Estimated wait for today’s applicants	Up to 55 years in the worst-case scenario
Family permits	Work permit valid for Oleh; daughters’ visitor permits expire in March
Government goal	Process about 80% of applications within service standards
Primary concern	Lack of health cards and school access for children without permanent status

What lies ahead

Advocates urge a clear plan to help Ukrainians stay in Canada, emphasizing the humanitarian pathway’s intent to protect families fleeing war. Ottawa says it remains committed to humanitarian admissions while restoring balance to its immigration system. For now, families like the Zadoretskyys must navigate wait times, expense, and the possibility of longer-than-expected stays in limbo.

Insights for a longer-view reader

Backlogs in humanitarian immigration programs are not new, but they affect the stability and integration of families already in Canada. Policymakers may consider targeted reforms to prioritize urgent cases, reduce administrative bottlenecks, and provide interim status options to prevent families from losing health care and education access. Public discussions could explore how to balance openness with sustainability to ensure that compassion remains actionable in practise.

What readers can do

If you or someone you know is navigating similar delays, seek advice from licensed immigration professionals and monitor official channels for updates. Consider exploring alternate pathways that may offer quicker stability, while remaining mindful of eligibility and costs.

Disclaimer: This report summarizes official statements and publicly reported timelines. Immigration decisions are personal and complex; consult authorized advisors for tailored guidance.

trajectories and takeaways

The situation illustrates how backlogs can redefine what “permanent” means for families seeking safety and a future in Canada.While officials work to accelerate processing, families are left planning for contingencies and everyday life under uncertain status.

Engage with us:

What steps should policymakers take to clear backlogs without compromising humanitarian commitments?

Have you or someone you know faced similar immigration delays? Share your experiences in the comments below.

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Restricting long‑term career planning.

Understanding teh 55‑Year Wait Timeline

Why the headline sounds alarming

• Processing backlog – Since the 2022 Ukrainian crisis, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has received over 700 000 sponsorship applications. The surge overloaded the online case‑management system, leading to projected processing windows that, for some family‑class streams, stretch beyond 50 years.
• Sponsor‑in‑Canada (SIC) caps – Each province, including Nova scotia, is allocated a fixed number of family‑class sponsorships per fiscal year. When the quota fills early, subsequent applications are placed on a “wait‑list” that can extend for decades.
• Priority ranking – Refugee claims are processed first, followed by humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) cases, then economic and family reunification streams. Ukrainian families applying under the “family sponsorship” category frequently enough fall lower in the priority queue.

Key Factors Contributing to Extended Processing

1. Administrative bottlenecks

• Legacy paper‑based filing in regional offices.
• Limited staffing at the Halifax Immigration Center (HIC).
• Documentation verification
• Required translation and authentication of Ukrainian civil records (birth, marriage, divorce).
• Security and background checks that involve multiple agencies (RCMP, CSIS).
• Policy shifts
• Temporary suspension of the “Outlier” fast‑track for family sponsorship in 2024 to reallocate resources to Express Entry streams.
• Introduction of a two‑year “temporary protected status” (TPS) that postpones permanent‑residency (PR) filing for eligible refugees.

impact on Ukrainian Families in Halifax

• Housing insecurity – Families often remain in temporary shelters or rely on community host‑families for up to 3‑5 years while awaiting PR.
• Employment barriers – without PR, many spouses are limited to open work permits that expire after 2 years, restricting long‑term career planning.
• Mental‑health strain – Prolonged uncertainty contributes to anxiety, depression, and difficulty integrating into local schools and workplaces.
• Community fragmentation – Extended wait times discourage extended family reunification, leading to isolated households within the Halifax Ukrainian diaspora.

Practical Steps to Navigate the System

Step	Action	Why it matters
1	Confirm eligibility for multiple streams (e.g., family sponsorship, Provincial Nominee Program, humanitarian & compassionate).	Diversifying pathways can reduce overall wait time if one stream clears faster.
2	Engage a certified immigration consultant or lawyer (Nova Scotia law Society list).	Professionals can identify missing documents, request expedited processing, and file appeal letters.
3	Submit a “request for priority processing” to IRCC with supporting evidence (e.g., medical needs, education continuity).	IRCC may accelerate cases that demonstrate urgent humanitarian concerns.
4	Leverage Temporary Resident Permits (TRP) while PR is pending.	TRPs allow continued work and study rights beyond standard open work permits.
5	Maintain a detailed case log (dates of submissions, reference numbers, correspondence).	Accurate records simplify follow‑up inquiries and reduce risk of lost files.
6	Participate in Halifax settlement programs (e.g., the Nova Scotia Settlement Agency’s “Ukrainian Bridge” project).	Access to language training, job‑search workshops, and legal clinics improves overall settlement outcomes.

Resources and Support Networks in Halifax

• Nova Scotia Settlement Agency (NSSA) – Offers free case‑management,language classes,and mentorship pairing with local Ukrainian families.
• Ukrainian Canadian Community Centre (UCCC) – Provides cultural events, child‑care vouchers, and a “Legal Help Desk” staffed by volunteer lawyers.
• Refugee Rights Association of Nova Scotia – Publishes monthly updates on IRCC processing times and organizes advocacy campaigns for reduced backlogs.
• Halifax Public Library – Immigrant Resources Hub – Houses translated guides on PR applications, document checklists, and self‑advocacy templates.

Case Study: The Hryshyn Family’s Real‑World Experience

• Background – The Hryshyn family (parents Oksana & Mykola, two children, ages 7 and 10) arrived in Halifax in August 2022 under the Canada‑Ukraine‑Mobilization program.
• Initial status – Received a one‑year open work permit and health‑care coverage via provincial medical plan.
• Sponsorship request – Filed a family‑class sponsorship in March 2023, linking to a Canadian cousin who acted as the sponsor.
• Processing timeline – As of January 2026, the application remains “under review” with an estimated completion date of 2058, reflecting the 55‑year projection for the current quota.
• Mitigation actions –

1. Engaged a Nova Scotia‑licensed immigration lawyer who filed a humanitarian‑and‑compassionate request citing Mykola’s chronic kidney condition requiring continuous treatment.
2. Secured a temporary resident permit for Oksana to extend her work rights beyond the original open work permit expiry.
3. Joined the NSSA “Ukrainian Bridge” mentorship, wich connected them with a local employer willing to sponsor a provincial nominee application—currently in the pre‑assessment stage.
4. Outcome to date – While the family sponsorship remains pending, the provincial nominee pathway offers a realistic 2‑year processing window, potentially granting PR well before the 55‑year benchmark.

Benefits of Securing Permanent Residency for Ukrainian Families

• Full access to health‑care and social services – no need for renewal of temporary health cards or supplemental private insurance.
• Employment stability – Ability to apply for any employer‑sponsored position without work‑permit restrictions, leading to higher wages and career advancement.
• Education continuity – Children become eligible for provincial tuition subsidies and can access post‑secondary loans as domestic students.
• Family reunification – PR status enables sponsors to bring additional relatives (parents, siblings) under family class, reducing diaspora fragmentation.
• Citizenship pathway – After three years of residence as a PR, families can apply for Canadian citizenship, unlocking voting rights and passport benefits.

actionable checklist for Ukrainian Families in Halifax

• Verify eligibility across family sponsorship, Provincial Nominee Program, and humanitarian & compassionate streams.
• Gather and translate all civil documents (birth, marriage, divorce) with certified translators.
• Register with NSSA and UCCC for settlement support.
• Schedule a free consultation with an IRCC‑approved immigration lawyer.
• File a priority‑processing request if there are health or safety concerns.
• Apply for a temporary resident permit to maintain work and study rights while PR is pending.
• Keep a detailed case log and set calendar reminders for follow‑up with IRCC.

By following the steps above and leveraging Halifax’s robust settlement ecosystem, ukrainian families can mitigate the impact of historically long processing times and move toward long‑term stability in their new Canadian home.