Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, has announced new measures to tackle the misuse of visitor visas. In a recent interview with Global News, Miller highlighted the growing problem of visa holders overstaying their visas or finding ways to remain in Canada through illegal means.
Some individuals enter Canada temporarily and transition to permanent residency, while others work illegally in the underground economy or produce fraudulent documents.
A CBC News investigation revealed that some migrants are also using their Canadian visitor visas to cross into the United States illegally. A farmer in the U.S. demonstrated how migrants crossed the border from Quebec into his land, easily bypassing authorities.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures show 21,929 encounters with migrants along the American side of the Canada-U.S. border between October 2023 and August 2024. Nearly 60 percent of these individuals were from India.
To address these issues, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is collaborating with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to improve the tracking and management of overstayers and visa violators.
Miller emphasized the need for enhanced vetting processes, including more thorough background, financial, and travel history checks. He also suggested using biometric data and exit controls to improve the monitoring of temporary residents.
Miller proposed stricter penalties for those who violate their visa terms, such as longer entry bans, higher fines, or criminal charges. Strengthening partnerships with the countries of origin of these individuals could also help combat fraud.
These changes aim to preserve the integrity of Canada’s immigration system while maintaining its commitment to welcoming newcomers.
The post Immigration Minister Announces Stricter Policies to Curb Visa Violations appeared first on CI News | Latest Canada Immigration News.
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