Canada discontinues 10-year automatic multiple-entry visas and implements tougher regulations

November 11, 2024 TruthUSA

Ottawa has updated its visitor visa regulations, discontinuing automatic 10-year multiple-entry visas.

The modification will not impact visas that have already been issued, but it will affect all new applications submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the updated government guidelines say.

“For multiple-entry visas, officers may decide to issue the visa with a validity period shorter than the maximum 10 years,” as stated in the post.

Previously, visitors to Canada were eligible for multiple-entry visas valid for up to 10 years, allowing entry and exit during that period.

However, the default 10-year window for visa seekers has been removed.

Instead, visa officers will consider each application individually, assessing the circumstances before deciding on a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and its validity.

Various factors, such as the purpose of the visit, financial resources, health status, ties to the home country, and past visa denials, can influence the visa issuance decision, according to the website.

This change comes amidst growing Canadian concerns about the effects of rapidly expanding immigration on housing, public services, and programs.

A recent poll found that 58 percent of Canadians believe immigration levels are too high, marking a 14 percentage point increase from last year, as reported by a survey by the Environics Institute.

To address the rising criticism of its immigration policies, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government have enforced caps on international student admissions and restrictions on foreign workers’ employment.

Trudeau announced a reduction in immigration targets for the years 2025 and 2026 from 500,000 to 395,000 and 380,000, respectively, with a further cut to 365,000 in 2027.

The new immigration plan is predicted to result in a 0.2 percent population decrease over the next two years, which will help “alleviate some pressure in the housing market,” according to a government press release. The plan aims to “reduce the housing supply gap by approximately 670,000 units” in the coming years.

Ottawa has also pledged to introduce targets for temporary residents for the first time, alongside the existing permanent resident cap.

Matthew Horwood contributed to this report.

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