The special immigration measures recently announced for people in Haiti (including priority processing) only apply to family members, including spouses, common-law and conjugal partners, dependent children (including a child adopted abroad) parents, grandparents and orphaned family members of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons. The Canadian family member must sponsor the application. Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s current priorities are:

1. Children (adopted or unaccompanied dependents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents)
2. Spouses and dependent children
3. Parents and grandparents
4. Dependents of principal applicants who have applied for permanent residence as protected persons.

The Government of Canada is concerned that some members of the Haitian-Canadian community are being misled into believing that a paid immigration consultant can speed up the arrival of their loved ones from Haiti. No immigration consultant can speed up this process. If an applicant chooses to hire a consultant, their application will not be given special attention or processed faster.

The only representatives who may charge a fee to represent or advise applicants on immigration and refugee matters with the Government of Canada are:

1. Lawyers who are members in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society;
2. Immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC); and
3. Notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec

The Government of Canada will not deal with non-authorized representatives who charge a fee for their service. Additional information on choosing a legal representative may be found here.