U.S. President Joe Biden, Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speak at the conclusion of the North American Leaders' Summit in Mexico City, Mexico, January 10, 2023. López Obrador has threatened not to attend the next summit if he feels Mexico is not being treated fairly. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
   
 

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  Canada reintroducing visa requirements for Mexican nationals as measure to restrict number of asylum seekers

By Patricia Romero
tellusmexico.mx

TORONTO - Canada and Mexico have maintained a positive diplomatic relationship for more than 80 years. The two countries have collaborated to ensure that North America remains the world's most competitive economic region with robust bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation. In order to preserve travel and people-to-people connections between Canada and Mexico while maintaining the integrity of the immigration system, the Canadian Government is modifying its travel requirements for Mexican citizens.

Starting February 29, 2024, at 11:30 p.m. ET, Mexican citizens who travel by air on a Mexican passport and possess a valid US non-immigrant visa or have previously held a Canadian visa within the past 10 years will be permitted to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). Although most Mexican citizens who hold US visas will still be able to travel to Canada without a visa, those who do not meet the mentioned conditions will have to apply for a Canadian visitor visa. This modification is in response to the increasing number of asylum claims made by Mexican citizens that are either refused, withdrawn, or abandoned. The goal is to ensure the efficient management of our immigration and asylum systems while preserving mobility for hundreds of thousands of Mexican citizens.

The process for Mexican citizens who wish to obtain a work or study permit in Canada will remain unchanged. Mexican citizens will still have access to a variety of labor pathways, including the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the International Mobility Program, if they wish to work in Canada.

Canada is committed to supporting travel, tourism, and business with Mexico. We will continue working closely with the Government of Mexico to enhance regular pathways to immigration and collaborate with our provincial and territorial counterparts to assist individuals who require protection. Canada is also expanding its network of visa application centers in Mexico to improve our services for clients. These measures will help alleviate pressure on our borders, immigration system, housing, and social services, while maintaining mobility for Mexican citizens who want to visit Canada.

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is an excellent example of mutually beneficial migration that Canada aims to promote globally and regionally. Canada is willing to work with Mexico to enhance this program by modernizing a new SAWP bilateral agreement. This agreement will offer new opportunities to Mexican workers by incorporating year-round primary agriculture and seasonal fish, seafood, and primary food processing into the program. By doing so, both sides of the Canada-Mexico relationship will benefit, including the workers and businesses.

Canada constantly monitors the effects of its visa policies on both visa-exempt and visa-required countries, as well as trends in asylum claims. These challenges are not restricted to a single country. Any changes to Canada's travel requirements are implemented to ensure the integrity and sustainability of our asylum and immigration systems.

For further information regarding these changes, including for individuals in transit or with upcoming flights, please visit the IRCC website.







                      


 
 

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