WEB DESK: Canada has enacted wide-ranging changes to its immigration and border security system through Bill C-12, introducing stricter requirements for asylum seekers and expanded powers for immigration authorities, according to information shared by Pakistan’s Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment.
The legislation, known as the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, revises procedures for refugee applications, visa processing and information exchange among government departments.
The measures could affect a broad range of people planning to move to Canada, including foreign workers, international students, permanent residency applicants and individuals seeking refugee protection.
Under the new provisions, the Canadian government may temporarily stop accepting or processing applications for work and study permits, temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) and permanent residency if considered necessary in the public interest.
Immigration officials have also been granted legal powers to suspend or cancel visas and other immigration documents that have already been issued if concerns arise over national security, suspected fraud or the integrity of the immigration system.
New deadlines for refugee claims
The legislation brings tighter eligibility conditions and filing deadlines for asylum applications.
Individuals who entered Canada after June 24, 2020, are required to lodge their refugee claims within one year of arriving in the country. Applications filed after the deadline may be deemed ineligible for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
A 14-day deadline has also been introduced for people entering Canada from the United States through unofficial land border crossings. Failure to submit an asylum claim within this period may prevent the case from being referred to the IRB.
The new framework also identifies circumstances in which refugee claims may be treated as abandoned or withdrawn. These include applicants leaving Canada and returning to their country of origin, missing compulsory immigration interviews or failing to provide documents requested by authorities.
Broader powers to share information
Bill C-12 also expands the scope for information sharing among Canadian government departments and agencies.
Authorities may exchange applicants’ personal records, including passport information and immigration status, to detect suspected fraud, false representations and other possible violations of immigration rules.
The changes signal a tougher approach to Canada’s immigration and refugee system, strengthening government oversight and placing additional obligations on people seeking visas, residency or asylum.
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