Canada requests powers to revoke visas amid fraud concerns
(MENAFN) Canada is pursuing authority to cancel large numbers of visas, partly over concerns about fraudulent applications, particularly from India and Bangladesh, according to internal government documents obtained by reports. The documents indicate that the Immigration Department and Border Services Agency have collaborated with unnamed US partners to identify and revoke suspicious visitor visa applications. India and Bangladesh were described as “country-specific challenges” in a presentation to the immigration minister’s office.
The proposed powers, included in Bill C-12 as part of broader border and immigration reforms, could also be applied during emergencies such as pandemics or conflicts. Immigration Minister Lena Diab emphasized that the authority is primarily intended for crisis situations and not to target specific countries.
Documents cited a sharp rise in fraudulent visa activity from India, with asylum claims climbing from under 500 per month in May 2023 to around 2,000 by July 2024. Enhanced verification measures have slowed processing times from 30 to 54 days, and approvals fell from over 63,000 in January to roughly 48,000 by June 2024.
Officials stressed that all decisions would comply with Canadian law and highlighted ongoing steps to curb visa fraud and illegal border crossings, including stricter screening for applicants from countries with high rates of abuse.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
