Why is Jamaica excluded from Canadian program that reduces visa constraints?
Canada’s expanded digital journey authorisation (eTA) program has ushered in a wave of ease for a number of international locations, lowering their visa constraints. Among the many 13 nations not too long ago added to this record, a number of hail from the Caribbean.
Jamaica’s absence from the eTA Program
Nonetheless, Jamaica’s omission from Canada’s program was a focal matter on the ‘Good Morning Minister’ radio program, the place Minister of International Affairs and International Commerce, Kamina Johnson Smith, offered insights.
Johnson Smith highlighted discussions with Canada centered round Jamaica’s visa refusal price.
Why the excessive refusal price?
One major cause cited for the elevated refusal price was the unfinished submission of kinds, main Canadian authorities to understand a scarcity of transparency.
One other situation Johnson Smith revealed was the engagement of Jamaicans with unauthorized brokers through the Canadian visa utility course of.
She shared that many Jamaicans imagine any journey agent can deal with their utility. Nonetheless, the Canadian system specifies a listing of licensed brokers for use.
The minister shared that this observe has two-fold repercussions.
“So, once you use an unauthorised agent… not solely would you be refused only for that, however you’re including up the statistics for Jamaicans who act outdoors of the system,” she stated.
Overstays and asylum seekers
Johnson Smith additionally pointed to the variety of Jamaicans overstaying their legitimate visas and people utilizing their visas to subsequently search asylum on unrelated grounds as causes for Jamaica’s omission from the record.