First Immigration Consultancy to step up for LGBTQ Community around the world.
2SLGBTQI+ Refugees
Canada has a proud history of providing protection to and helping to resettle the world’s most vulnerable groups. That includes those in the Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+) community. The government of Canada has publicly and proactively encourage the sponsorship of refugees who face violence and persecution, including due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or HIV status. Click here for Government of Canada official announcement.
The director of Overseas Immigration Services, Mr. Kuldeep Bansal who is a registered immigration consultant practicing immigration services in Surrey BC Canada has found that people of LGBTQ community around the globe face cruelty and face the country law to make them illegal in their own native country. Overseas Immigration wants to help the LGBTQ community around the world to migrate to Canada and live freely as they want to live.
Is Canada safe for LGBTQ people?
Canada still has work to do in making sure that our country is safe and just for everyone. However, Canada is internationally recognized as one of the safest and least discriminatory nations in the world for LGBTQ people. In Canada:
- Same-sex relationships and sexual activity are not a crime
- Same-sex marriages are legal and honoured with rights (pensions, benefits, etc.)
- Same-sex couples and LGBTQ individuals may adopt children
- LGBTQ people can serve in the military and be open about their sexuality and gender
- Discrimination and hate speech against LGBTQ people by an employer is illegal.
- Transgender people can change their name and legal gender
More information on the history of LGBTQ rights in Canada can be found here.
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Does the government allow LGBTQ people to immigrate to Canada?
Yes. Your sexuality or gender identity is not a reason why you would be denied the chance to immigrate to Canada. You will not be asked about your sexuality or gender identify on your immigration application.
If you come from a country where same-sex relationships are a crime, and you have a criminal record for that reason, you have some options (Read more).
If I already live in Canada, can I sponsor my same-sex partner?
Yes. As of 2002, a permanent resident or Canadian citizen can sponsor their same-sex partner to come to Canada, under the same rules as an opposite-sex partnership.
Legit is a Canadian organization that advocates for people in this situation. You can find more information on their website.
Does the Canadian government allow LGBTQ refugees?
Yes. If you are a member of the LGBTQ community and you are being oppressed or persecuted because of your sexuality or orientation you can apply for refugee status. Settlement.org has a lot of great information on the process of applying as a refugee if you are being persecuted for your sexuality or gender (Read more).
Do settlement services in Canada understand and support LGBTQ people?
It depends. You will not be denied service in Canada based on your orientation or gender identity. However, you may find that when you arrive in Canada, you may need to visit settlement services for help with things like applications or finding a job, an agency like ours for counselling and a different agency to find health information for LGBTQ people.
In Canada, we are slowly learning to be more responsive to the fact that those who are new to Canada and also in the LGBTQ community have a unique experience from other immigrants or refugees. More and more settlement agencies are offering services to the LGBTQ community and more and more LGBTQ-specific agencies are offering services to the multicultural community. This is particularly true in larger areas, like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. The Positive Spaces Initiative is an example of a program from the province of Ontario to support agencies serving people who are LGBTQ newcomers.