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Canada: Proposed Changes Would Strengthen Canada’s International Student Program
Ottawa, December 28, 2012 — New measures to prevent fraud in the International Student Program (ISP) were proposed today by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.
“Attracting the best and brightest young minds from around the world is key to the continued success of Canada’s economy and long-term prosperity,”
said Minister Kenney. “But there are too many stories of international students who pay a lot of money and leave their families back home to study in Canada, only to find out they have been misled. These changes will help us better protect international students and the reputation of Canada’s post-secondary education system by making sure that international students are coming to quality institutions that comply with basic standards of accountability.”
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is proposing regulatory changes to limit study permits to students attending institutions designated by provinces and territories. The proposed changes would address concerns that some institutions are providing poor-quality programs or facilitating, knowingly or not, the entry of foreign nationals to Canada for purposes other than study.
Under the proposed amendments, CIC would work with provinces and territories – which are constitutionally responsible for education – to develop a framework to designate educational institutions that will be permitted to host international students. If a school is not designated, it would be able to continue offering programs of six months or less to foreign nationals in Canada on regular visitor visas. Visitors who wish to enroll in short-term courses do not currently require a study permit, and this would continue to be the case.
Eligible international students attending designated institutions would also be able to work part-time off-campus, without having to apply for a separate work permit. This new flexibility would contribute to Canada’s appeal in attracting the best and brightest students from around the globe.
Furthermore, to help eliminate abuse of student visas, changes are being made to ensure that the primary intent of an international student in Canada is to study. Currently, foreign nationals are able to apply to any Canadian school or business offering training in Canada and need only demonstrate an intent to study – there is currently no requirement for them to actually pursue studies once in Canada and no way of tracking whether they do. These changes would provide CIC the authority to request evidence from study permit holders to verify their compliance with study permit conditions. International students would be removed from Canada if they fail to meet new requirements.
The proposed changes respond to findings from a 2011 evaluation of the International Student Program, which concluded that gaps in the program leave it open to abuse and fraud. Similar reforms have already been implemented by Canada’s key competitor countries for international students. These changes will strengthen Canada’s position as a leader in international education.
“By improving the International Student Program, we are strengthening Canada’s reputation as a destination of choice for international students,”
said Minister Kenney. “In addition to the economic impact, international student graduates are a great source of potential permanent immigrants. For those who choose to stay in Canada, their Canadian education and their language skills are important factors for success.”
“International students are vital to the global experience offered on university campuses across Canada,”
said Paul Davidson, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). “They enrich our institutions with their cultures, languages and unique perspectives and have a positive economic impact on communities coast to coast. We support efforts to strengthen Canada’s reputation as a destination of choice for students around the world.”
“The Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) and CIC collaborate to maintain the integrity of Canada as a destination of choice for international students,”
said James Knight, President and CEO of the ACCC. “Canada’s 140 public colleges and institutes are renowned for the quality of their programs and services for international students. We welcome measures to preserve the excellence of the Canadian brand.”
As part of the consultative process, the proposed changes were posted today in the Canada Gazette for a 45-day public comment period.
Canada: New Bridging Open Work Permit
Ottawa, December 20, 2012 — The new Bridging Open Work Permit enables certain economic class applicants to maintain their status and continue working in Canada while they wait for a final decision on their permanent residence application, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney announced.
“We are making our immigration system faster and more flexible, and cutting red tape for the skilled immigrants Canada’s economy needs to grow and thrive,”
said Minister Jason Kenney. “The new open work permit provides those who are transitioning to permanent residency with better opportunities to integrate into Canada’s labour market to the benefit of our economy and all Canadians.”
The bridging work permit is available immediately and is valid for one year from the date of issuance. Qualifying foreign nationals currently in Canada , who have submitted an application for permanent residence under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) may be considered for an open work permit if their current work permit is about to expire.
Previously, applicants who were awaiting a decision on their permanent residence application could find their temporary work permits expiring before their application was processed. As a result, these individuals would no longer have been authorized to work in Canada unless their employer applied for and received a Labour Market Opinion from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and the applicant then applied for an extension of status.
Open work permits are already available for other in-Canada immigration streams, such as live-in caregivers, spouses or common-law partners. This improvement will result in consistent treatment for other applicants already in Canada.
“We are preventing unnecessary disruption in the lives of the newcomers who are already contributing and successfully integrating into the Canadian economy,”
said Minister Kenney. “Improvements to our immigration system like this will help Canada attract the best and brightest from around the world – the skilled immigrants we need to fill our skilled labour shortages.”
Canada: New Federal Skilled Worker Program to accept applications beginning May 4, 2013
Ottawa, December 19, 2012 — The new selection system for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) will take effect on May 4, 2013 at which time the program will re-open for applications, Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.
“The government’s number one priority remains jobs, economic growth, and long-term prosperity,” said Minister Kenney. “The new Federal Skilled Worker Program criteria will ensure Canada is selecting the skilled immigrants our economy needs, who are the most likely to succeed and fully realize their potential in Canada.”
The improvements to the FSWP points grid are based on a large body of research which has consistently shown that language proficiency and youth are two of the most important factors in the economic success of immigrants.
The final changes to the FSWP selection criteria include:
- Minimum official language thresholds and increased points for official language proficiency, making language the most important factor in the selection process;
- Increased emphasis on younger immigrants, who are more likely to acquire valuable Canadian experience, are better positioned to adapt to changing labour market conditions, and who will spend a greater number of years contributing to Canada’s economy;
- Introduction of the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), so that education points awarded reflect the foreign credential’s true value in Canada;
- Changes to the arranged employment process, allowing employers to hire applicants quickly, if there is a demonstrated need in the Canadian labour market; and
- Additional adaptability points for spousal language ability and Canadian work experience.
“For too long, too many immigrants to Canada have experienced underemployement and unemployment, and this has been detrimental to these newcomers and to the Canadian economy,” said Minister Kenney. “Our transformational changes to the FSWP will help ensure that skilled newcomers are able to contribute their skills fully to the economy as soon as possible. This is good for newcomers, good for the economy, and good for all Canadians.”
There are two new steps to the new selection system. First, applicants will have to demonstrate that they meet the minimum language threshold, which is level 7 of the Canadian Language Benchmark assessment system. Applicants will be able to get a language assessment from existing agencies designated by the Minister and listed on the CIC website.
Second, applicants will have their education credentials assessed prior to arriving in Canada. A list of assessment organizations designated by the Minister will be made available early in the New Year. The assessment of foreign educational credentials will provide prospective newcomers with a more realistic understanding of how their credentials compare to education standards in Canada. It will also give them the opportunity to upgrade their education prior to coming to Canada if they choose.
It is important to note that these changes will not apply to people who have applied to the FSWP prior to May 4, 2013 with a qualifying arranged job offer or under the Ph.D. stream.
As recently announced, due to the actions taken over the past months, new applications under the FSWP will be processed in a few months, rather than a few years. In order to ensure fast processing times and to avoid backlogs, the new FSWP will accept a fixed number of applications each year.
In the medium term, the Government is also moving forward to develop and implement an Expression of Interest (EOI) model, which will provide employers with access to a pool of skilled workers.
Canada: List of Designated Countries of Origin Announced
Ottawa, December 14, 2012 – The Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism announced today the initial list of countries whose citizens will have their asylum claims expedited for processing because they do not normally produce refugees.
“Designating countries is an important step towards a faster and fairer asylum system,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “It is remarkable that the European Union – with its democratic tradition of freedom, respect for human rights, and an independent judiciary – has been the top source region for asylum claims made in Canada. What’s more, virtually all EU claimants either withdraw or abandon their own claims or are rejected by the independent Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.”
In 2011, of the total number of asylum claims filed by European Union (EU) nationals around the world, over 80% of were filed in Canada, even though EU nationals have mobility rights within the 27 EU member states. The majority of EU claimants do not appear for their Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) hearing as they withdraw or abandon their own claims. Of all EU claims referred to the IRB, an independent tribunal, 91% were rejected last year.
As part of the improvements to Canada’s asylum system, the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act included the authority to designate countries of origin (DCOs) – countries that respect human rights, offer state protection, and based on the historical data from the IRB, do not normally produce refugees.
The initial list of designations covers 27 countries, 25 of which are in the European Union:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
Additional countries will be designated in the months following the implementation of the new system, which comes into force tomorrow, December 15, 2012.
All eligible asylum claimants from a DCO will continue to receive a full and fair oral hearing on the individual merits of their claim in front of the independent, quasi-judicial IRB. The new system does not change in any respect the nature of these first instance hearings, which are conducted in a manner consistent with principles of due process and natural justice, and meet the requirements of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as stipulated by the Supreme Court of Canada in its 1985 decision R v. Singh.
Claimants from DCOs will have their asylum claim heard by the IRB within 30-45 days, depending on whether they make their claim at a port of entry or inland. In comparison, all other claimants will have a hearing within 60 days, compared to the current waiting period of 600 days. This means that all claimants will have their cases heard much faster.
Just as they do now, failed DCOs claimants will continue to have the option to seek appeal to the Federal Court to review a negative decision. However, they will not have access to the new Refugee Appeal Division at the IRB.
There will be no automatic stay of removal for DCO claimants should they ask the Federal Court to review a negative decision, which means that they could be removed from Canada while their application for review before the Federal Court is pending. In these circumstances, individuals can ask the Federal Court to stay their removal.
“In order for Canadians to continue to strongly support Canada’s tradition of providing protection to victims of persecution, they must have faith in the integrity of our asylum system,” said Minister Kenney. “With these improvements, we are ensuring that genuine refugees fleeing persecution will receive protection more quickly, while, at the same time, failed asylum claimants from generally safe countries will be removed much faster.”
To be considered for designation, a country must meet objective criteria related to the number of finalized asylum claims Canada receives from that country. For countries with 30 or more claims in any consecutive 12-month period during the three years preceding designation, quantitative criteria are used. At least 60% of claimants from the country must have withdrawn and abandoned their own claims, or least 75% of claims from a country have been withdrawn, abandoned, and rejected by the IRB.
In the case of countries with low numbers of asylum claims (i.e., no consecutive 12-month period with 30 or more finalized claims during the three years prior to designation), objective qualitative criteria are used, including the existence of an independent judicial system, recognition of basic democratic rights and freedoms and the existence of civil society organizations.
If a country meets these triggers, a thorough review is undertaken.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, recognised that “there are indeed Safe Countries of Origin and there are indeed countries in which there is a presumption that refugee claims will probably be not as strong as in other countries.” And he has recognised the legitimacy of providing expedited processing for asylum claimants from those generally safe countries.
Many developed democracies use a similar authority to accelerate asylum procedures for the nationals of countries not normally known to produce refugees. These states include the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Belgium and Finland, among others. Some European Union (EU) states also have accelerated procedures for the nationals of other EU member states.
In fact, within the 27 member states of the EU, asylum claims from other EU nationals are considered to be manifestly unfounded. In many of these countries, claims by other EU nationals are considered inadmissible or are subjected to expedited processing. Among other things, this reflects that fact that EU citizens have mobility rights in all neighbouring EU countries.
The Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act is expected to save provinces and territories $1.6 billion over five years in social assistance and education costs.
“Canada will continue to have the most fair and generous asylum system in the world,” said Minister Kenney. “We welcome 1 in 10 of the world’s resettled refugees, more than almost any other country in the world, and we are increasing that number by 20 percent.”
Canada’s new asylum system is the result of two laws passed by Parliament — the Balanced Refugee Reform Act (June 2010) and the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act (June 2012) – which amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
Canada: New Federal Skilled Trades Stream to Begin from January 2, 2013
Mississauga, December 10, 2012 — To address Canada’s growing demand for skilled tradespersons, a new Federal Skilled Trades Program is being launched on January 2, 2013, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.
“The new Skilled Trades Stream will help address serious labour shortages in some regions of the country, and support economic growth,” Minister Kenney said. “For too long, Canada’s immigration system has not been open to these in-demand skilled workers. These changes are long overdue and will help us move to a fast and flexible immigration system that works for Canada’s economy.”
The program criteria are built around four requirements that ensure applicants will have the right skills and experience needed to succeed here in Canada. In order to qualify, applicants will need to:
- have an offer of employment in Canada or a certificate of qualification from a province or territory to ensure that applicants are “job ready” upon arrival;
- meet a basic language requirement;
- have a minimum of two years of work experience as a skilled tradesperson, to ensure that the applicant has recent and relevant practice as a qualified journeyman; and
- have the skills and experience that match those set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC B) system, showing that they have performed the essential duties of the occupation.
In order to manage intake, avoid backlogs and ensure fast processing times, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will accept up to a maximum of 3,000 applications in the first year of the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Minister Kenney was joined at today’s announcement by Michael Atkinson, President of the Canadian Construction Association. “The introduction of a dedicated and streamlined program for skilled trades addresses many of the shortcomings from the current Federal Skilled Worker Program,” said Michael Atkinson. “The new program ensures greater consideration is given to the needs of industry when processing eligible immigration applications.”
“Ensuring Canada’s immigration system works for small employers in need of skilled trades’ people has been a concern for some time,” said Dan Kelly, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. “With the shortage of qualified labour in many parts of Canada growing once again, the launch of the Skilled Trades immigration stream is very welcome news.”
Eligible occupations will include electricians, welders, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, and pipefitters, among others. CIC is currently working with the provinces, territories and federal government partners on the list of skilled trades’ occupations that are experiencing acute labour shortages and which will qualify under the program. This list will be announced prior to the program opening on January 2, 2013.
The Federal Skilled Trades Program will complement other avenues already in place for skilled tradespersons to immigrate to Canada, such as the Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Programs.
“As promised in Economic Action Plan 2012, we are creating a new immigration stream to facilitate entry of skilled tradespersons,” added Minister Kenney. “The Federal Skilled Trades Program will help transform Canada’s immigration system into a fast and flexible system focused on jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.”
Read Full NEWS at CIC Website.
Canada to Collect Fingerprints of Visiting Pakistani Tourists and Students
(Dec 7,2012)Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney, has announced that visitors and students from certain nationals including Pakistan will be required to provide fingerprints when they apply for visas starting from 2013. The fingerprinting will reduce the visa frauds by providing reliable tool to the immigration officials. Canada has also included 28 other countries and one territory for collection of biometric data. The Minister said that Canada welcomes the legitimate visitors and biometrics will protect the safety and security of Canadians.
Canadian immigration minister has introduced a new bill that will require foreign nationals of certain countries including Pakistan to submit biometric data along with the temporary resident visas to work, visit or study in Canada beginning in the year 2013. The list of the countries includes nationals from Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
Biometrics has proven to be one of the most effective ways to identify individuals entering the country. Canadian Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney
“By providing immigration officials with greater certainty,” said the minister, “biometrics will facilitate legitimate travel to Canada.”
Following are the 29 countries and territory for the biometric data collection program:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Vietnam, and Yemen.
The applicants will be responsible for paying the additional fees charged by the biometric data collection centres.
Minister Kenney said, “Biometrics will strengthen and modernize Canada’s immigration system,” said Minister Kenney.
“Our doors are open to legitimate travellers”, added the Minister, “and through the use of biometrics we will also be able to protect the safety and security of Canadians.”
It is estimated that the biometric data collection plan would provide federal and provincial governments additional $106 million over 10 years in savings because of ‘reduced negative refugee claims, fewer removals and detentions.’
Official News Realease of Citizenship & Immigration Canada is as follows….
Ottawa, December 7, 2012 — In order to facilitate legitimate travel, nationals of twenty‑nine countries and one territory will soon need to provide their biometrics to come to Canada to visit, study or work, under regulations proposed today by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.
“Biometrics has proven to be one of the most effective ways to identify individuals entering the country,” said Minister Kenney. “By providing immigration officials with greater certainty, biometrics will facilitate legitimate travel to Canada.”
Starting in 2013, persons from the following countries and territory who apply for a visitor visa, study permit or work permit will be required to provide their fingerprints and photograph at the time of application: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Vietnam, and Yemen.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents will not have to submit biometrics to enter the country. Minors under the age of 14, the elderly over the age of 79, and diplomats travelling on official business and their family members will also be exempt.
Once an individual arrives in Canada, their biometric data will be checked to ensure that the individual who was approved to travel is in fact the same person who is entering Canada.
The use of biometrics as an identity management tool will bring Canada in line with many other countries that are now using, or preparing to use, biometrics in immigration and border management. These include the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, countries in the European Union Schengen Zone, Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia.
Accordingly, many nationals from the selected twenty-nine countries and one territory will already be familiar with the requirement. In addition, the governments of 20 of the 29 countries already collect biometrics from their citizens for the issuance of documents, such as identity cards and passports, or they plan to do so.
“Biometrics will strengthen and modernize Canada’s immigration system,” said Minister Kenney. “Our doors are open to legitimate travellers and, through the use of biometrics, we will also be able to protect the safety and security of Canadians.”
Citizenship and Immigration Canada, along with its partners, the Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, continue to work closely with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to ensure adequate privacy protection measures for an applicant’s personal information. Applicants’ privacy will be protected in accordance with Canada’s Privacy Act.
UKBA NEWS: East London passport smuggler jailed for 21 months
05 December 2012
A woman from East London who attempted to import forged passports in a bid to help illegal migrants remain in the UK has been jailed for 21 months.
Rachel Johnson’s scam was uncovered when Border Force officers at Coventry international postal hub intercepted a package containing four suspicious Nigerian passports on 6 March 2012. The passports themselves were genuine but contained counterfeit bio-data pages and tampered visa documents.
The parcel was delivered to Johnson’s home address on 22 March shortly after which she was arrested by our specialist officers from the North and East London criminal and financial investigations team.
When our officers searched the house, we also found her Nigerian passport contained a counterfeit indefinite leave to remain stamp.
Johnson, 40, of Cotton Approach, Romford, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to breach immigration laws and possession of forged identity documents at a previous hearing at the same court on 27 July. She was sentenced to 21 months on Thursday 29 November.
Hannah Shirley, UK Border Agency, whose team investigated the case said:
‘Johnson made a blatant attempt to cheat our immigration laws herself and on behalf of others but her conspiracy was foiled thanks to the vigilance of our detection officers at Coventry postal hub.
‘I am pleased that the court has recognised the seriousness of her actions. The message is clear: we will investigate those people who deliberately abuse our immigration system and they will face a custodial sentence like this one.’
We will now seek to remove Johnson from the country at the earliest opportunity.
It is believed the people whose passports Johnson attempted to import had entered the UK illegally. Investigations into the whereabouts of three of them are continuing but a 4th has been charged with attempted possession of a forged Nigerian passport.
Our North and East London criminal and financial investigation team is a specialist unit of police officers seconded from the Metropolitan Police working alongside our warranted officers to investigate organised immigration crime.
Source: UKBA Latest News & Updates.
10 held after immigration raid at Leeds Colleg
Published on Tuesday 4 December 2012 16:24
A COLLEGE in Leeds has been raided and ten members of staff arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.
Officers from the UK Border Agency’s Criminal and Financial Investigation Team made four arrests at Leeds Professional College, Nelson House, George Mann Road, shortly after 9am today.
Six further arrests were made at separate residential addresses in South and West Yorkshire.
Those arrested include eight Pakistani men and a British man and woman.
All have been taken to police stations at various locations across West and South Yorkshire and Scotland for questioning.
Adrian Watkins, of the UK Border Agency’s criminal and financial investigation team, said the college is suspected of charging students – mainly from Pakistan – thousands of pounds for admission into the UK on student visas. Students then fail to turn up to classes and many work illegally or disappear into the system, he said.
Mr Watkins added: “The UK Border Agency criminal and financial investigation team have been carrying out a six-month investigation into Leeds Professional College which has culminated today in the arrest of a number of individuals today from the college.
“Today there should have been 138 students in class when we attended the premises. There were, in fact, just two students and they weren’t actually studying. The majority are from Pakistan, at the moment registered with the college are approximately 350 students.
“We’re appealing for anyone who currently attend the college or any students who had previously attended the college to come forward, likewise any ex-teachers from the college, and any information they provide will be treated with confidentiality.”
He said the “long-term plan” is that students who have not attended the college will be rounded up by enforcement teams and “dealt with accordingly”.
In its prospectus, Leeds Professional College advertises courses in business and management, health and social care and English for international students.
It says students must attend a minimum of 80% of classes and those who do not will be reported to the UK Border Agency.
The News is from Yorkshire Post. You can view the story here.
New Canadian Asylum System Comes into Force on December 15, 2012
Canadian immigration minister has announced that country’s new asylum system will become effective from December 15, 2012. The asylum claims will be expedited for applicants from the countries which have been producing bogus claimants. The applicants will not be allowed to work in Canada for at least first six months and will not have any kind of access tomedical benefits. The Minister has estimated that about 25% of the claimants will be from the safe countries.
Jason Kenney, Canada’s Citizenship andImmigration Minister has announced on Friday November 30, 2012 that new Canadian asylum system will come into force on 15th of December, 2012.
“Our changes,” said Minister Kenney, “will make Canada’s asylum system faster and fairer.”
The applications of the asylum seekers who will be from the Minister’s designate safe country will be fast tracked with an hearing in 30 to 40 days. They will not have the right of appeal and are expected to be removed from Canada within one year after their arrival.
The Minister Kenney will also reveal the list of designate countries on December 15, 2012.
Mr. Kenney said, “Our system took so long to get around to removing false claimants, unfounded claimants who did not actually need our protection and in some cases, were seeking to abuse Canada’s generosity.”
Refugee claimants will be barred from taking up employment in Canada unless their applicationhave been lodged for more than six months awaiting decision. They will also not be eligible to receive health care coverage not even in the medical emergency.
The Minister believes that new Canadian asylum system will reduce the processing times and deter the bogus refugee claimants.
“We believe the new system,” said the Minister, “will substantially reduce the attractiveness of making unfounded claims and will therefore allow us to focus our resources more on the bona fide refugees who actually do need our protection.”
Canada allowed about 13000 asylum claimants in the year 2011 and about half of the applicationsout of 34,257 were not approved.
It is estimated that by removing the bogus refugee claims faster from Canada will save provinces and territories $1.6 billion over five years in social assistance and education costs.
Under the new system, failed asylum claimants will be removed from Canada within a year of their final Immigration and Refugee Board decision, compared to the current situation in which it generally takes 4.5 years to exhaust all resources and remove a failed asylum claimant.
UKBA Apologize after Immigration Watchdog Alleged UKBA for Misleading MPs
United Kingdom Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, John Vine, has alleged in his report that UK Border Agency (UKBA) provided the information regarding the backlog of the refugee claimant cases to the Member Parliaments which was contrary to the facts. UKBA’s official has submitted apologies and accepted the full responsibility of the errors in the information to the committee in the year 2011.
UK Chief Inspector of Borders, John Vine, has said in his report that inaccurate updates were provided to the Parliament by the UKBA about the asylum cases.
“I found that updates given by the Agency to Parliament in the summer of 2011,” said John Vine, “stating that the legacy of unresolved asylum cases was resolved, were inaccurate.”
Mr. Vine alleged that very minimal paper work was carried out on the conclusion of the legacy asylum cases by in a bid to finish the work by summer of 2011. He added, “In fact, the programme of legacy work is far from resolved. On the evidence I found, it is hard not to reach the conclusion that cases were placed in the archive after only very minimal work in order to fulfil the pledge to conclude this work by the summer of 2011.”
Mr. Vine said that officials did not perform the security checks on the asylum cases on consistent manner and matching of records with other department was initiated in April this year. “I found that the security checks on controlled archive cases had not been undertaken routinely or consistently since April 2011, and data matching with other departments in order to trace applicants had not begun until April this year. This was unacceptable and at odds with the assurances given to the Home Affairs Select Committee,” Mr. Vine said.
“The flawed implementation of a policy change in July 2011, coupled with poor customer service, adversely affected a number of applicants. It led to lengthy and distressing delays for affected asylum applicants, including former unaccompanied asylum seeking children, whose cases should have been dealt with in a timely fashion,” the Chief Inspector of Borders further added.
Jonathan Sedgwick Sedgwick, the UKBA’s director of international operations and visas and a former acting chief executive, assumed the full responsibility for the incorrect information presented to the Parliament last year in April.
Mr. Sedgwick had said during his presentation that “exhaustive checks” had been done in 74,500 historic cases against 19 databases before they were placed in a “controlled archive”. The cases of the asylum seekers who could not traced by the UKBA were placed on a list ladled as “controlled archive”.
“I welcome this opportunity,” said Mr. Sedgwick, “to say to the whole committee in person how much I regret and apologise for the fact that I did mislead you on two occasions last year, specifically in relation to the number of databases that were and were not checked.
The UK home secretary in 2006 had asked UKBA to decide 450,000 unresolved asylum cases by the year 2011.
The Trustline 