Canada Takes Stronger Measures to Curb Visitor Visa Misuse
In response to increasing concerns about the misuse of visitor visas, the Canadian government is tightening its regulations to ensure that visitors are entering the country for legitimate purposes. Immigration Minister Marc Miller highlighted the need for stricter measures, particularly after a rise in individuals using visitor visas to cross into the U.S. or claim asylum in Canada.
From October 2023 to August 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported over 21,000 migrant encounters at the northern U.S. border, nearly 60% of whom were from India. This spike has prompted the Canadian government to scrutinize visa applications from India more closely.
Minister Miller emphasized the government’s responsibility to safeguard its borders and collaborate with the U.S. to address these challenges. He pointed out that smugglers have been advertising illegal border crossings on social media, further complicating the situation.
As Canada ramps up efforts to curb visa abuse, Ottawa is considering a range of visa integrity measures to manage the increasing flow of migrants while ensuring border security.