QUESTION PERIOD — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Visa Applications
May 4, 2023
My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Senator Gold, last Thursday I asked about the unacceptable wait time for visitor visas for Pakistan, which was 638 days. Yesterday, I heard from community members that it has gone up this week to 802 days — this is inhumane.
Leader, that means that family members have to wait for almost two years to be able to visit their loved ones. What is being done to reduce the wait time for visas?
The government has deployed significant efforts and resources to speed up the process, which is unacceptably long for far too many applicants and their families.
The government is processing these applications faster than it did before the pandemic; it’s an average — plus or minus — of 200,000 per month over time. This was made possible by digitizing certain processes and hiring new employees.
The figures that you cite are of great concern. I will make further inquiries, senator. We all hope that the situation improves. I hope to have an answer in that regard soon.
Senator Gold, you talk about the process being faster, and it has been digitized; yet, between last Thursday and this Wednesday, the wait time has gone up to 802 days.
Senator Gold, I want to read to you one of the messages I received:
Why are we suffering the most? We are contributing to the workforce, paying taxes and yet no one is helping us. The Canadian United Arab Emirates visa office is the most painful visa office.
What do I say to this gentleman and others who feel abandoned by this Liberal government?
Again, senator, I do appreciate your question, and, more importantly, I empathize with those who are waiting.
I have no way of explaining why the data points have changed over this time. I repeat my undertaking to try to find an answer as quickly as I can.
