Program that speeds up visas for Mexicans traveling to Canada becomes permanent

Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced on May 12, 2014 that there will be policy changes coming that will make it easier for Mexican citizens to travel and visit Canada. The Minister was quoted in saying: Under the CAN+ program, Mexican nationals who have travelled to Canada or the United States within the […]

Canadian Foreign Service Workers Union Offers Binding Arbitration

The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) has offered to enter into binding arbitration with the federal government to end the strike of its members and with it, the disruption to permanent residency and visa issuance. PAFSO is giving the government until Tuesday to accept the offer before it is rescinded. Treasury Board President […]

Canadian Foreign Service Officers Picket in Front of PM Office

Canadian diplomatic staff belonging to the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO), a union for foreign service officers employed with the Canadian government, held a picket outside the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday to draw attention to their strike. The dispute is over claims by PAFSO that foreign service officers receive less pay than […]

Canada Among Most Welcoming Countries to Foreign Visitors

A new travel and tourism study from the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranks Canada as one of the most welcoming countries to foreign visitors, ahead of the United States and most European countries. The rankings, revealed by Max Fisher in a Washington Post story, can be found in a 400-plus page WEF analysis on national […]

Visitors and Students to Canada From India Booming According to Immigration Department

The number of visitor visas the Canadian government issues in India’s Punjab region has increased by 300 percent from 2005 levels according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). CIC says that approximately 17,608 visitor visas were issued in 2012 by its Chandigarh office, which serves the Punjab region. The growth in the number of Indian […]

Canadian Visa Office in Buffalo to Close

The Canadian consulate in Buffalo, which handles visa applications for international students, temporary workers and visitors in Canada, and permanent resident applications for residents and citizens of the US, will be closing. About 75 consulate staff will be relocated to the Canadian consulate in New York, and many of the visa processing services will be transferred to […]