CANADIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Speeding up the refugee process

Tuesday, 28 July 2009

Many questions are being asked in light of the controversial decision by Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to impose visa restrictions on Mexico and the Czech Republic.

The absence of a visa requirement permitted Mexican claimants to fly directly to Canada, and Mexico's exemption from the safe-third-country regulations allowed Mexicans already in the U.S. to claim asylum at our land border - giving Mexicans an advantage over most refugees from other countries. As a result, in 2008, Mexican refugee claims represented a full 25 per cent of refugee claims from all countries, with an acceptance rate of only 11 per cent.

In contrast, in the Czech Republic almost all of the refugees are Roma or gypsy claimants and their claims are all alike - beatings at the hands of neo-Nazi skinheads, systemic employment discrimination, being turned away from stores and restaurants. Thus, in 2008 claims from the Czech Republic had a 94 per cent acceptance rate before the refugee board. In the first six months of this year, 72 out of 90 claims decided by the board were approved, an acceptance rate of 80 per cent.

Despite Kenney’s public statement that, "it's hard to believe that the Czech Republic is an island of persecution in Europe," the effect of the visa requirement upon the Czech Republic will be to shut the door on the ability of genuine Roma refugees to reach Canada.

In response, many critics are calling for reform. The most critical reform suggested is to ensure that a refugee claimant has a hearing within six months of arrival and that an appeal on the merits, if necessary, be completed a few months later. Removal after an unsuccessful appeal should be immediate, which will remove the incentive for bogus refugees to come to Canada in the first place.

Refugees choose Canada, because like most of our immigrants, they see Canada as the best country in the world and the country most free of discrimination.

If you are interested in Visas to Canada, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Canada.