Canada Imposes Ebola-Related Visa Restrictions
October 31, 2014
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Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has implemented broad bans on temporary visas and permanent residence applications for foreign nationals who have visited Ebola-affected countries, according to the Canada Gazette.
An “Ebola-affected country” has been identified by the World Health Organization as having widespread and persistent or intense transmission of the Ebola Virus Disease. At the moment, those countries include Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Temporary Visa Restrictions
CIC has stopped processing new and pending worker, student and visitor temporary residence visa applications for foreign nationals who have visited or traveled through an Ebola-affected country starting October 31, 2014.
CIC has also stopped processing new and pending temporary residence visa applications for foreign nationals who intend to travel to an Ebola-affected country.
These restrictions do not apply to renewals, extensions or restorations of temporary resident status for foreign nationals in Canada at the time of the application or at the time of the decision.
Permanent Resident Application Restrictions
CIC has also stopped processing new permanent resident applications by foreign nationals who have visited or traveled through an Ebola-affected country within three months of receipt of the application by CIC. This restriction does not apply to applications from foreign nationals with valid temporary resident status applying for permanent residence while in Canada.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals with new or pending applications who are subject to the ban will be informed as such and their processing fees will be returned.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
© 2009 - 2015 © Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
An “Ebola-affected country” has been identified by the World Health Organization as having widespread and persistent or intense transmission of the Ebola Virus Disease. At the moment, those countries include Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Temporary Visa Restrictions
CIC has stopped processing new and pending worker, student and visitor temporary residence visa applications for foreign nationals who have visited or traveled through an Ebola-affected country starting October 31, 2014.
CIC has also stopped processing new and pending temporary residence visa applications for foreign nationals who intend to travel to an Ebola-affected country.
These restrictions do not apply to renewals, extensions or restorations of temporary resident status for foreign nationals in Canada at the time of the application or at the time of the decision.
Permanent Resident Application Restrictions
CIC has also stopped processing new permanent resident applications by foreign nationals who have visited or traveled through an Ebola-affected country within three months of receipt of the application by CIC. This restriction does not apply to applications from foreign nationals with valid temporary resident status applying for permanent residence while in Canada.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals with new or pending applications who are subject to the ban will be informed as such and their processing fees will be returned.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
© 2009 - 2015 © Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
