Category Archives: Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada – IRCC

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada - IRCC, News

Canada to Lift Visa Requirements for Mexico

The Government of Canada has made it a top priority to re-establish and strengthen our relationship with one of our most important partners, Mexico. To this end, Prime Minister Trudeau announced on June 28, 2016 Canada’s intention to lift the visa requirement for Mexican visitors to Canada beginning December 1, 2016. Lifting the visa requirement will deepen ties between Canada and Mexico and will increase the flow of travellers, ideas, and businesses between both countries.

Closer collaboration between Canada and Mexico on mobility issues will also help encourage travel between the two countries while preventing any increase in asylum claims or other irregular migration. Officials plan to meet regularly to promote these mutual interests.

Canadian officials are working with their Mexican counterparts on final details to ensure a successful visa lift.

Until November 30, 2016, the visa requirement is still in place for Mexico and – until it is lifted – Mexican citizens must continue to apply for a visa to visit, study or work in Canada. Mexicans can apply online for a visitor visa on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website, or can use the services of one of the Visa Application Centres in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Visitors are generally allowed a six-month stay from the day they enter Canada. If the Border Services Officer authorizes a stay of less than six months, they will indicate in the visitor’s passport the date by which they must leave Canada.

After the visa requirement is lifted, Mexicans wanting to work or study in Canada will still need to apply for a work or study permit prior to their arrival in Canada. Mexican citizens should also be aware that – once the visa is lifted – they will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly or transit through Canada. Applying for an eTA is a simple, inexpensive (CAD$7) process that takes just minutes to complete online. The eTA is electronically linked to a traveler’s passport, and is valid for five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. All visa-exempt foreign nationals – except for U.S. citizens – need an eTA to fly to or transit through Canada.

Additional information will be provided to Mexican citizens in advance of the visa lift, including details on when Mexicans travellers can begin applying for their eTA.

Please Contact Us for more information.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada - IRCC, News

Canada Will Start Collecting Passport Exit Data

On June 15, 2016 the Canadian Government tabled for first reading Bill C-21, or as it is called, An Act to amend the Customs Act.

The Bill was introduced by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honorable Ralph Goodale. This procedure is to start the process for keeping track of passport information for all individuals exiting Canada. The Bill has to have two more readings and review by the House of Commons Committee before it will be sent to the Senate and then proclaimed into law.

Minister Goodale told reporters, “It’s nothing more or less than what you find on page two of your passport .And that is the full name, the nationality, the issuing authority and the gender of the traveller.”

The same information is already collected when people enter Canada. Many countries are collecting such data upon departure including the U.S. and the U.K.

Goodale also noted, “Having this data will allow us to better respond to amber alerts, for example, on missing children. It will help us deal with human trafficking, it will help us deal better with illegal travel by terrorist fighters, it will help (Minister of Immigration) John McCallum deal with immigration proceedings and visa applications, and it will help us ensure the integrity of Canadian social programs.”

It is proposed that when Individuals leave Canada by land, and enter the United States, American border officials will collect the data and send it back to Canadian officials. When leaving the country by air, airlines will provide passenger manifests to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). All information will be retained for 15 years.

The collection of data will also help monitor the residency of people attempting to dodge taxes, and stop people from illegally collecting government employment benefits while out of the country. The Canada Revenue Agency and Employment and Social Development Canada expect to save between $194 million and $319 million over five years once the system is fully implemented.

CBSA already stores data for almost all entries into Canada. This information is used for security purposes but also to monitor presence in Canada for individuals who are applying to renew their Permanent Residence Cards or making an Application for Canadian Citizenship.

Please Contact Us for more information.