Visa changes for Mexican nationals spark calls for 'alternative solutions' from Leamington consulate
Following the federal government's move to impose new visa requirements for Mexican nationals, the Consul of Mexico in Leamington, Ont. says he wishes "alternative solutions" could have been explored.
Late last week, Immigration Minster Marc Miller announced some Mexican nationals will soon need a visa to come to Canada under a change in policy aimed to curb rising numbers of asylum claims, which are mostly rejected or abandoned.
The Conservative government of 2009 imposed a visa requirement on Mexico to curb the flow of asylum claimants. The current Liberal government relaxed those requirements seven years later before restoring them on Thursday.
This means Mexican travellers who do not hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa or have never held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years will now have to apply for a visitor visa to enter Canada.
Those who do comply with one of those two conditions can apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA), allowing them to come to Canada without a visa.
"We think that there were other options that could have been implemented before this," said Rodrigo Báez.
He said one alternative could have seen the expansion of labour programs, such as the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program, and the creation of more legal pathways for migration.
"Canada has a major labour shortage and Mexico is more than willing and prepared to help Canadians to fill out these position," said Báez.
The Consul of Mexico added he has already witnessed the impact of the new rules on, at least, one Canadian family.
"I just had a case last week of two Canadian parents who have Mexican children and they wanted to bring them back to Canada. Because the children didn't have a Canadian passport, they are stuck in Mexico. So we're trying to help them," he said.
According to the federal government, applying for an eTA is a "simple online process" that takes just a few minutes to complete and sees most applicants get their eTA approval within minutes via email.
But, according to immigration lawyer Amanjit Kaur, a visa can take four to six weeks to come through.
"We get a lot of calls to our office. We have a lot of agricultural workers from Mexico and people are worried. People are panicking," said Kaur.
Kaur added the worry is coming primarily from Mexican nationals whose family members were supposed to come and visit them in the summer.
"However, we've been telling them not to panic and not to make more of what has been announced,” she said.
According to the Mexican Consulate, family members of two-year temporary foreign workers are exempt from the new regulations.
The federal government estimates about 60 per cent of people travelling from Mexico will not need a visa to come to Canada under the new rules because they meet the requirements to acquire an eTA.
"Some people are calling [Mexican nationals] collateral damage because of these changes. I would say, 'Not really.' It does not impact a majority. If you are eligible for an eTA, you're still good to come in," said Kaur.
Speaking on behalf of Justice For Migrant Workers, Chris Ramsaroop called the government's policy change "discriminatory."
"As we all know, U.S. visitors to Canada are not facing the same type of visa requirement restrictions," Ramsaroop said, adding the eTA process "pre-emptively" prevents Mexican nationals from seeking asylum.
"So they're trying to prevent people from accessing their right to justice."
The application process for Mexican citizens seeking a work or study permit will not change, according to the federal government.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976345.1722029432!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING Celine Dion performs at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Beloved Canadian icon Celine Dion made her much-anticipated appearance during the closing of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before Jasper can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes "for several weeks."
'He was just gone': Police ramp up search for vulnerable 3-year-old boy in Mississauga, Ont.
Police in Mississauga are conducting a full-scale search of the city’s biggest park for a non-verbal toddler who went missing Thursday evening. Sgt. Jennifer Trimble told reporters Friday morning that there has been no trace of three-year-old Zaid Abdullah since 6:20 p.m., when he was last seen with his parents in Erindale Park, near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Canada's Christine Sinclair: 'We were never shown drone footage'
Canada soccer great Christine Sinclair said on Friday national team players were never shown drone footage during the more than two decades she was on the team, following a spying scandal that cast a shadow over the Canadians at the Paris Games.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn $146,000 for water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six figure water bill.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
At least 4 buildings burned at Jasper Park Lodge, others damaged: Fairmont memo
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge said Thursday afternoon most of its structures are 'standing and intact,' including its iconic main lodge.
She couldn't stop thinking about the guy she met at the Athens Olympics. Then a message from him changed her life
Omaira Gill grew up counting down the days to each Olympic Games. She wasn’t especially sporty, so she ruled out the prospect of competing pretty early on. But she still harboured Olympic dreams – even just spectating would do.