Despite recent layoffs announced by Justin Trudeau’s government aimed at the necessary administrative formalities, the situation remains difficult in Warsaw, Poland, where the majority of refugees fleeing the war and the attacks of Russian army.

Some testimonials obtained in recent days by Radio-Canada yield a “catastrophic” situation, with long waiting times and a large number of people trying their luck, either at the Canadian Embassy or on visa. application center. from the Polish capital, accredited by Ottawa to register biometric data.

This step, for certain specific categories of people, is essential for obtaining the Canada-Ukraine Emergency Travel Authorization, a program launched on March 17th.

It’s always too complicatedregretted Michael Shwec, the president of the Quebec section of the Congress of Ukrainian Canadians.

His organization, he explains, sent only three people to Warsaw to facilitate and help people with these steps.

” We know that some have successfully completed these steps, but we want to make this process faster. “

More than 90 000 requests

So far, Ottawa has received more than 90,000 applications from Ukrainians who want to go to Canada. More than 30,000 requests was approved, Aidan Strickland, spokesman for Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, told Radio-Canada.

Recognizes the latter recent concerns in Warsaw because of a increasing demand.

Many Ukrainians, for example, appear without making an appointment online, told us. However, it is mandatory.

” We also know that many clients are eager to get their visa and go to Canada to find temporary shelter. “

In addition, Immigration Canada mentioned communication problems between this center in Warsaw, which is managed by the company VFS Global, and Ukrainians wishing to recover their passports, once the immigration process is completed.

Clients who receive notice that their passport is in transit must wait for further instructions from the VAC before presenting themselves to a VAC in person.said the spokesman for Minister Fraser.

The second center is awaiting opening

In the face of this intense demand, the Trudeau government still released some ballast by the end of March.

The obligation to provide biometric data, which is strictly demanded by the opposition parties, has been removed for three groups: those under 18 years of age, those over 60 and for all those whose visa has been approved in Canada. .

Ottawa also promised the imminent opening of a second center to carry out this biometric data in Warsaw. However, for reasons administrative tells us, it is not yet in service.

This new center should however see the light of day in the next few days, we detail in Minister Fraser’s entourage. Another similar office will also open in Berlin.

” We continue to respond in real time, increase capacity and streamline our processes. “

We deployed additional personnel, supplies and equipmentadded Aidan Strickland, referring to a unprecedented proposal at volumes unusual cases to be dealt with.

The ministry will continue to monitor the situation and allocate additional resources, if necessary, to ensure applicants [d’autorisation de voyage] get their appointment to collect biometrics and process their visa application in a timely mannerhe argued.

In the eyes of the Congress of Ukrainian Canadians, the establishment of charter flights, which have been discussed for weeks, should now be seriously studied by the Trudeau government.

A mother, who came to Poland with two children in her arms, had to manage to buy three plane tickets. It’s really hard. We wanted the government to have a leadership role on this topic, but it didn’t pass and it was a small gapsaid Michael Shwec.

No announcement on this topic – at the moment – has been made, but Ottawa is keeping the door open on this proposal. Discussions with airlines are taking place, Minister Fraser said at the end of March, after being bombarded with questions on this topic by the Bloc Québécois.

In collaboration with Yanik Dumont Baron