Mexican citizens now need a visa to visit Canada, as new Canadian visa requirements take effect this week.

If you’re a Mexican national planning a trip to Canada — whether to go to school, to scout out potential relocation opportunities, or simply to travel — आप पहली बार चाहिए एक अस्थाई निवास वीजा के लिए आवेदन के माध्यम से मेक्सिको सिटी में कनाडा के दूतावास.

नागरिकता और आव्रजन कनाडा (सीआईसी) has created an FAQ section on its website with more information about the new visa requirements.

के अनुसार an announcement from Citizenship, आव्रजन और बहुसंस्कृतिवाद मंत्री जेसन Kenney, the new visa requirements are the result of a huge increase in the number of Mexicans applying for refugee status in Canada:

मेक्सिको से शरणार्थी दावों के बाद से लगभग तीन गुना है 2005, making it the number one source country for claims. में 2008, से अधिक 9,400 claims filed in Canada came from Mexican nationals, representing 25 सभी दावों का प्रतिशत प्राप्त. Of the Mexican claims reviewed and finalized in 2008 आव्रजन और शरणार्थी बोर्ड द्वारा, an independent administrative tribunal, केवल 11 फीसदी स्वीकार किए जाते थे.

“In addition to creating significant delays and spiraling new costs in our refugee program, the sheer volume of these claims is undermining our ability to help people fleeing real persecution,"मंत्री केनी ने कहा. "सब भी अक्सर, people who really need Canada’s protection find themselves in a long line, waiting for months and sometimes years to have their claims heard. यह अस्वीकार्य है.

“The visa requirement I am announcing will give us a greater ability to manage the flow of people into Canada and verify bona fides. By taking this important step towards reducing the burden on our refugee system, we will be better equipped to process genuine refugee claims faster.”

Mexican travelers, and the Canadian tourism industry, are understandably unhappy about the decision, के रूप में this article from the Canadian press रिपोर्टें.

More background information about the new visa requirement is available from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Photo by abdallahh (फ़्लिकर)