Better Canadian visa deal for Saudis
July 19 2010 by Liam Clifford
Better visa terms have been secured by for Saudis wishing to move to Canada to work or study.
Since
9/11 people from Saudi Arabia have had to apply for a Canadian visa in order to
study or work in Canada. Those visas are also only valid for 18 months,
considerably limiting the amount of time Saudis can live in Canada without
citizenship.
However, it has now emerged that the Canadian immigration
department has loosened the restrictions on Saudis in response to the growing
number wanting to move to Canada. In 2009 alone, Canadian immigration issued
1,665 work visas to Saudis, as well as 5,292 Canadian student visas.
The
new deal means that Saudis who are granted Canadian visas can remain living in
Canada for five years and can come and go as they please. Federal documents show
that the changes in the rules are the result of lobbying from the Saudi Arabian
Embassy, as well as from other groups. Charles Mann, a former diplomat, was
hired by the Embassy to undertake lobbying on its behalf in order to improve,
"the availability of visas to come to Canada for Saudi citizens."
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