Filed Under: Eye Openers, Press Releases, non-US news
Tagged: Canada, Mexico, travel
Ottawa, July 13, 2009 — Beginning 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 14, 2009, Mexican nationals will require a visa to travel to Canada, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. For the first 48 hours, Mexican citizens may apply for entry on arrival in Canada. After 11:59 p.m. EDT July 15, 2009, a visa will be required.
Refugee claims from Mexico have almost tripled since 2005, making it the number one source country for claims. In 2008, more than 9,400 claims filed in Canada came from Mexican nationals, representing 25 per cent of all claims received. Of the Mexican claims reviewed and finalized in 2008 by the Immigration and Refugee Board, an independent administrative tribunal, only 11 per cent were accepted.
“In addition to creating significant delays and spiraling new costs in our refugee program, the sheer volume of these claims is undermining our ability to help people fleeing real persecution,” said Minister Kenney. “All too often, people who really need Canada’s protection find themselves in a long line, waiting for months and sometimes years to have their claims heard. This is unacceptable.
“The visa requirement I am announcing will give us a greater ability to manage the flow of people into Canada and verify bona fides. By taking this important step towards reducing the burden on our refugee system, we will be better equipped to process genuine refugee claims faster.”
“The visa process will allow us to assess who is coming to Canada as a legitimate visitor and who might be trying to use the refugee system to jump the immigration queue,” Minister Kenney said. “It is not fair for those who have been waiting patiently to come to Canada, sometimes for years, when others succeed in bypassing our immigration system.”
Canada regularly reviews its visa policies toward other countries. Countries are aware that if they do not satisfy the conditions of a visa-exemption, a visa may be imposed.
This change means that nationals from Mexico who want to travel to Canada will first need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa and meet the requirements to receive one. It is up to the applicant to satisfy the visa officer their visit to Canada is temporary, they will not overstay their approved time in Canada, they have enough money to cover their stay in Canada, they are in good health, they do not have a criminal record, and are not a security risk to Canadians. These requirements are the same for anyone who wants to visit Canada.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has been working to increase processing capacity in Mexico City. Nevertheless, the imposition of the visa will mean short-term delays in travel as CIC puts resources in place. Applicants are encouraged to send their applications by courier or registered mail and to avoid visiting the Embassy unless specifically invited for an interview.
“Canada has strong ties with Mexico,” said Minister Kenney. “We continue to welcome all genuine travellers to Canada from this country.”
For further information (media only), please contact:
Alykhan Velshi
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Alykhan.Velshi@cic.gc.ca
Media Relations Unit
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
Backgrounders
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Comunicado de prensa
Canadá impone una visa a México
Ottawa, 13 de julio de 2009 – A partir de las 12:01 hrs., hora del Este, del 14 de julio de 2009, se exigirá visa a los nacionales mexicanos para viajar a Canadá, anunció hoy el Ministro de Ciudadanía, Inmigración y Multiculturalismo, Sr. Jason Kenney. Durante las primeras 48 horas, los ciudadanos mexicanos podrán solicitar entrada a su llegada a Canadá. Después de las 23:59 hrs. hora del Este del 15 de julio de 2009, deberán tener una visa.
Las solicitudes de condición de refugiado de nacionales mexicanos casi se han triplicado desde 2005, haciendo que México sea el país con el mayor número de solicitudes. En 2008, más de 9,400 solicitudes en Canadá fueron presentadas por nacionales mexicanos, representando el 25 por ciento de las solicitudes recibidas. De las solicitudes mexicanas examinadas y finalizadas en 2008 por la Comisión de Inmigración y Refugiados, un tribunal administrativo independiente, sólo 11 por ciento fueron aceptadas.
“Además de crear demoras significativas y un aumento precipitado de costos en nuestro programa de refugiados, el simple volumen de esas solicitudes merma nuestra capacidad de ayudar a las personas que huyen de verdaderas persecuciones,” dijo el Ministro Kenney. “Muy a menudo, las personas que realmente necesitan la protección de Canadá se encuentran en una larga lista de espera, por meses y a veces años antes de que se puedan oír sus solicitudes. Eso es inaceptable.
“El requisito de visa que estoy anunciando nos dará una mayor capacidad de manejar el flujo de personas hacia Canadá y verificar la veracidad de ellas. Al tomar esta importante medida para reducir la carga sobre nuestro sistema de protección a los refugiados, estaremos mejor equipados para tramitar más rápido los casos de los refugiados genuinos.”
“El trámite de visas nos permitirá evaluar quién viene a Canadá como visitante legítimo y quién puede estar intentando usar el sistema de refugio para pasar por alto la lista de espera de inmigración”, dijo el Ministro Kenney. “No es justo para las personas que han estado esperando pacientemente, a veces por años, para venir a Canadá cuando otros intentan pasar por alto nuestro sistema de inmigración.”
Canadá examina regularmente las políticas de visa que tiene con respecto a otros países. Los países saben que si no satisfacen las condiciones de exención de visa, se puede imponer la exigencia de una visa.
Este cambio significa que los nacionales de México que quieran viajar a Canadá primero deberán solicitar una Visa de Residente Temporal y cumplir con los requisitos para obtenerla. A los solicitantes de visas les corresponderá demostrar que visitan Canadá en forma temporal, que no se quedarán en el país más del tiempo permitido, que tienen suficiente dinero para cubrir sus gastos de estadía en Canadá, y que tienen buena salud y no constituyen un riesgo para la seguridad de los canadienses. Esos requisitos son los mismos para todos los que quieren venir a Canadá.
El Ministerio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de Canadá (CIC) está trabajando para aumentar la capacidad de trámite en la Ciudad de México. Sin embargo, la imposición de la visa significará demoras a corto plazo en los viajes mientras el CIC implementa sus recursos. Se insta a los solicitantes a enviar sus solicitudes por mensajería o por correo certificado y no ir a la Embajada a menos que se les invite específicamente para una entrevista.
“Canadá tiene fuertes lazos con México,” dijo el Ministro Kenney. “Continuaremos acogiendo a todos los viajeros genuinos a Canadá provenientes de ese país.”
Se entrega mayor información sobre el requisito de visa en los documentos informativos:
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Para mayor información, contacte:
Alykhan Velshi
Oficina del Ministro
Ministerio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de Canadá
Alykhan.Velshi@cic.gc.ca
Relaciones de Prensa
Dirección de Comunicaciones
Ministerio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de Canadá
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
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