Asks the government to treat expired Venezuelan passports as valid identity documents for ten years from their original expiry date, and to adjust immigration processing for applicants who cannot obtain valid Venezuelan identity documents.

In August 2019, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) approved a policy to recognize expired Venezuelan passports as valid for an additional period of five years past their printed expiration date;

The ongoing geopolitical crisis and lack of direct consular representation in Canada continue to prevent thousands of Venezuelan citizens and permanent residents from obtaining or renewing travel documents;

The current 5-year waiver is fast approaching its limit for a vast number of early arrivals, placing vulnerable families, workers, and students at immediate risk of losing their legal immigration status, employability, and basic rights in Canada;

International allies, such as the United States, have successfully expanded their protective measures by recognizing the validity of expired Venezuelan passports for a period of ten years to alleviate this administrative bottleneck; and

Failing to update this policy undermines the economic and social integration of the Venezuelan diaspora, who actively contribute to Canadian society.

We, the undersigned,citizens and residents of Canada, call upon theGovernment of Canadato:1. Extend the current policy to formally recognize the validity of expired Venezuelan passports for a total period of ten (10) years from their original expiry date;2. Implement flexible measures and regulatory guidelines for immigration processes involving Venezuelan nationals who cannot meet standard identity document requirements due to passport expiration; and3. Instruct Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officers to explicitly take into account the systemic and severe difficulties in obtaining official Venezuelan identity documents when evaluating and adjudicating temporary residence, permanent residence, and citizenship applications. 1. Extend the current policy to formally recognize the validity of expired Venezuelan passports for a total period of ten (10) years from their original expiry date; 2. Implement flexible measures and regulatory guidelines for immigration processes involving Venezuelan nationals who cannot meet standard identity document requirements due to passport expiration; and 3. Instruct Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officers to explicitly take into account the systemic and severe difficulties in obtaining official Venezuelan identity documents when evaluating and adjudicating temporary residence, permanent residence, and citizenship applications.