The Canadian government is making it easier for some Mexicans to travel to Canada, but it is not ending the controversial visa requirement that has led to a strained relationship between the two countries.
Canadian immigration authorities notified the Foreign Relations Secretariat (SRE) Monday that measures to facilitate the visa application process for Mexicans will be implemented.
A new Canadian program called CAN+ will grant expedited visa processing for Mexican nationals who have travelled to Canada or the United States within the last 10 years.
Under the CAN+ program individuals will still have to demonstrate proof of having visited Canada or the United States within the past 10 years. However they will be able to acquire their visa at an expedited rate, if they are traveling for business, touristic or educational purposes.
In addition the Canadian government has also decided to increase the number of visa applications that it will accept. Additionally, the wait time for a response will be cut down to a maximum of 10 days.
The Canadian government said that in a six-month pilot project testing the program, visas were issued within seven days, and more than 95 per cent of applications were approved.
The Canadian Immigration Minister Chris Alexander said, “By making the CAN+ program permanent, our government is making it easier and faster for Mexican travelers to come to Canada to do business, visit family or friends, or bolster Canada’s tourism industry.”
The SRE said it “will continue implementing all measures at its disposal in order to eliminate the Canadian visa requirement in the future.”
(from The News)
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