There is now an opportunity for individuals hailing from Uganda to submit an application for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA), provided they have received a negative final decision from either the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, the Federal Court, or a final PRRA determination from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) within the period of May 13, 2022, to May 12, 2023.
The Canada Border Services Agency will inform eligible Ugandans, who are presently under a valid deportation order, of their right to submit a PRRA application.
Typically, if an individual’s asylum claim or earlier PRRA application is abandoned, withdrawn, or dismissed, or if the Federal Court dismisses their appeal for a review, they are barred from applying for a PRRA for a minimum of 12 months.
However, due to escalating adverse conditions in Uganda, returning individuals may potentially face risks, necessitating a further evaluation. Therefore, certain individuals from Uganda are now exempt from the 12-month limitation on PRRA applications, conditional on when their asylum claim decision was rendered.
Ugandan individuals who receive a final negative ruling post-May 12, 2023, will not be eligible for PRRA application for 12 months. The reason being, any recent changes in the situation within the country would have been factored into the decision-making process during the asylum claim or the PRRA procedure.
It’s crucial to understand that eligibility for PRRA application does not guarantee a successful outcome. IRCC officers will continue to assess each case on its individual merits, based on the information provided.
Applicants are obliged to maintain the currency of their PRRA application and to notify IRCC of any alterations to their application.
In its decision to exempt certain countries, IRCC takes into consideration any recent incidents within a country that might expose all or some of its residents to a risk scenario akin to those outlined in sections 96 (definition of a Convention refugee) and 97 (definition of a person in need of protection) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
About Author
