PM calls for ‘whole hog’ on visa-free travel to Canada

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has made a call to Immigration authorities in Canada to give Vincentians the “whole hog” as it relates to visa requirements to enter the North American country.

He was speaking on NBC Radio one day after the Tuesday, June 6 announcement by Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser, on a new policy that will be offered to known travellers of 13 countries who wish to enter the country by air.

Known travellers include those who have held a Canadian visa within the last 10 years, or a person who holds a non-immigrant US visa.

The Prime Minister said the move was long in coming and criticized the 2012 change in Canada’s immigration policy which saw visa-free entry being stripped from Vincentians, along with Saint Lucians and two other international countries.

In 2015, the government had held out hope that the signing of the Schengen Visa Waiver Agreement would compel Canadian authorities to retract the visa restrictions. The then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Commerce and Information Technology Camillo Gonsalves, said then that the agreement validated the security of the Vincentian passport.

“As you are aware, the visa restrictions really were imposed on what I consider to be spurious grounds. And I made that claim to Prime being offered to “known” travellers.

Those who fall into the category of “known” travellers include persons who have held a Canadian visa within the last 10 years, or a person who currently holds a US non-immigrant visa. This new policy applies only to persons who are entering the country by air.

Nationals of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and 12 other countries are set to benefit from the programme include Panama, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago; in South America, Argentina, Costa Rica and Uruguay; in Africa, Morocco and Seychelles and in Southeast Asia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Back in 2012, Canada did a complete 180 rotation on their immigration policy, removing the visa exemption from Vincentian travellers. At the time, the reason for restriction was said to be the high rate of immigration violations, as well as the sustained flow of asylum claims.

Vincentians wishing to enter Canada since then were forced to cough up CAD$75 for a single entry visa, or CAD$150 for multiple entry.

Going forward, under the new programme, potential visitors will pay a cost of CAD$7, and the application will be processed under the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which is aimed at making the pre-screening process easier, faster and more affordable.

Minister Fraser said there is a high volume of applications for entry into Canada and the government has recognized that the rigorous screening of some applicants can be expedited.

“… This programme allows Canadian officials to conduct very light touch pre-travel screening for eligible air travellers. It only costs $7 to apply, and most applications were approved automatically within a few minutes. And the ETA is valid for up to five years or until the user’s passport expires whichever comes first,” he explained.

“… Because they’ve already been successfully screened by Canada or the United States, our trusted partner, and

this programme is going to provide expedited travel for many people. And it’s important to note that it was designed

for it and it applies to those who come by air.”

In explaining the justification for the change, Minister Fraser said officials have recognized a “more appropriate assessment” for travellers, allowing previous Canada visa holders and present US-visa holders to be processed more easily.

“When we know that somebody has been through the screening process recently in Canada or who has been through the rigorous screening process. Even more recently in the United States. We have faith that they’re going to be able to satisfy the requirements of the visa process and Canada.”

Minister Fraser said the new approach will allow immigration officers to focus on other issues such as processing study and work permits.

He added the program has been piloted in Brazil in 2017 resulting in airlines approving more direct flights into Canada.

“We’re excited at the prospect of airlines continuing to do the same with some of the 13 countries that are benefiting from expanded access to this programme today.