September 13, 2012
Visitor visas are now required for citizens from St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland
Minister Jason Kenney recently announced that Citizens from St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland who want to travel to Canada will now require a visitor visa. Minister Jason Kenney believes “these changes are necessary to protect the integrity of Canada’s fair and generous immigration system by helping us to reduce an unacceptably high number of immigration violations.”
One of the main reasons why the government has imposed visa requirements on St. Lucia and St. Vincent is due to their unreliable travel documents. In particular, criminals from these countries can legally change their names and apply for new passports. Another reason for these changes is that over the past five years, there has been an unacceptable high number of asylum claims from St. Lucia and St. Vincent, with about one and a half percent and three percent of the population of these countries seeking refuge in Canada.
Citizens from St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland will now have to proof visa officers that their visit to Canada is temporary; they will not overstay; they have enough money to cover their stay; they are in good health; they do not have a criminal record; and they are not a security risk to Canadians.
The Government of Canada is still committed to protecting the integrity of our immigration system while still welcoming bona fide visitors from around the world.