Canada to provide 5 million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to Mexico

The relationship between Canada and Mexico remains strong even after Canada imposed a visa on Mexican nationals who wish to travel to Canada.

As a proof, Canada announced that it will be providing 5 million doses of H1N1 flu (Swine Flu) vaccine to Mexico.

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, on behalf of the Government of Canada, has announced it will be providing five million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to Mexico to help bridge that country’s immediate pandemic vaccine requirements. This is not a donation. Mexico will replenish Canada’s H1N1 vaccine supply by March 31, 2010.

"We are privileged that we are in a position to support Mexico’s pandemic response efforts," said Minister Aglukkaq. "The immediate response to Mexico’s request by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments serves as testimony to the special relationship that exists between Canada and Mexico."

Read full story: Canada to Bridge Mexico's H1N1 Flu Vaccine Requirements

Canada Visa Office - Mexico

After the news about Travel Visa Requirement for Mexicans, many are asking about information about Canada Visa Office in Mexico.



Canadian Visa Office in Mexico is a full service office. It process visas for immigrants, visitors, workers and students.

Canada Visa - Office Mailing Address:

The Canadian Embassy
Immigration Section
Schiller 529
Col. Polanco
11560, Mexico D.F.
Mexico

For more information about Canadian Visa Office in Mexico, visit http://mexico.gc.ca

Canada imposes a visa on the Czech Republic and Mexico

Effective July 14, 2009, Canada will now impose visa for Czech and Mexican nationals who wish to travel to Canada. They used to be inluded in the list of countries with Visitor Visa Exemption.

Canada imposes a visa on the Czech Republic

Ottawa, July 13, 2009 —Beginning 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 14, 2009, Czech nationals will require a visa to travel to Canada, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. For the first 48 hours, Czech citizens may apply for entry on arrival in Canada. After 11:59 p.m. EDT July 15, 2009, a visa will be required.

Since the visa requirement was lifted on the Czech Republic in October 2007, nearly 3,000 claims have been filed by Czech nationals, compared with less than five in 2006. The Czech Republic is now the second top source country for refugee claims. The relatively higher acceptance rate of refugee claims originating in the Czech Republic masks the troubling fact that more than half of the claims are abandoned or withdrawn before a final decision is made by the Immigration and Refugee Board, indicating that many claimants may not be genuine refugees.[Source]

Canada imposes a visa on Mexico

Ottawa, July 13, 2009 — Beginning 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 14, 2009, Mexican nationals will require a visa to travel to Canada, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. For the first 48 hours, Mexican citizens may apply for entry on arrival in Canada. After 11:59 p.m. EDT July 15, 2009, a visa will be required.

Refugee claims from Mexico have almost tripled since 2005, making it the number one source country for claims. In 2008, more than 9,400 claims filed in Canada came from Mexican nationals, representing 25 per cent of all claims received. Of the Mexican claims reviewed and finalized in 2008 by the Immigration and Refugee Board, an independent administrative tribunal, only 11 per cent were accepted.[Source]

For information about Canadian Tourist visa application for Czech national and Mexicans, visit http://cic.gc.ca. For Mexicans, here's Canada Visa Office in Mexico for more information.

Swine Flu effect to Temporary Foreign Workers from Mexico

Although swine flu in Canada was said to may have came from Mexico, the Government of Canada is not imposing any restrictions on temporary foreign workers from Mexico.

In Canada, where some 14,000 Mexicans labor on fruit and vegetable farms, authorities said no restrictions were currently imposed on travel, although temporary workers were being screened carefully before departure from Mexico.

"We are monitoring the situation closely, and we're working closely with our federal partners to gather information and manage the impact on Canada of the evolving health situation in Mexico and determine what action is required," said Alykhan Velshi, spokesman for Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.[Source]

For Mexicans who wish to work in Canada, visit www.mexico.gc.ca

Swine Flu in Canada

Canada is the third country to confirm human cases of swine flu. There were already six cases of swine flu reported.

Nova Scotia's chief public health officer, Dr. Robert Strang, said the east coast Canadian province had confirmed four "very mild" cases of swine flu in students ranging in age from 12 to 17 or 18. All are recovering, he said.

"It was acquired in Mexico, brought home and spread," Strang said.

The western province of British Columbia confirmed two further cases.

It was said to be acquired in Mexico. Read the full story from news.yahoo.com

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people. Read more about swine flu here



For more information about swine flu in Canada and how the Government of Canada is handling the situation, visit Public Health Agency of Canada's official website, www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

Visitor Visa Exemption - Visiting Canada

There are certain group of people who are exempted from visa requirement in visiting Canada. Unlike Filipino Citizens visiting Canada, the following people are no longer required to apply for visitor visa.

citizens of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia (Republic of), Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States, and Western Samoa;

persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card) or can provide other evidence of permanent residence;

British citizens and British Overseas Citizens who are re-admissible to the United Kingdom;

citizens of British dependent territories who derive their citizenship through birth, descent, registration or naturalization in one of the British dependent territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena or the Turks and Caicos Islands;

persons holding a British National (Overseas) Passport issued by the Government of the United Kingdom to persons born, naturalized or registered in Hong Kong;

persons holding a valid and subsisting Special Administrative Region passport issued by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China;

persons holding passports or travel documents issued by the Holy See.

The above list of Visitor Visa Exemptions may be updated from time to time. Just recently, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced that Visitors from Croatia no longer require visa to come to Canada. So to get the updated list, please refer to Citizneship and Immigration Canada official website: http://cic.gc.ca

UPDATES
July 13, 2009 - Canada imposes a visa on the Czech Republic and Mexico
Nov 23, 2010 - Canada lifts visa requirement for visitors from Taiwan

Foreign workers in Canada up on the rise

In a bid to address the labor shortage experienced by Canada, the government escalated its Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program.

This is a big attempt to solve the problems faced by employers in filling up its vacancies. Hence, Canadian employers have been using this program to their advantage.

In 2006, more than 112,000 temporary foreign workers arrived in Canada which constitutes a big majority of new temporary residents. This figure represents at least 9% increase in the number of foreign workers that entered Canada in 2005. Historically speaking, it was in 2006 that Canada receives the most number of foreign workers since 1997.


The 2007 Canadian federal budget allocated $50.5 million over two years to the TFW Program, aiming to more efficiently respond to regional labour and skill shortages and reduce processing times for applications. Online application systems will be improved and lists of occupations with known labour shortages will be maintained. Additionally, to protect temporary worker rights, a system will be developed to ensure employer compliance with the TFW.

Philippines ranks 2nd top source country

Joining the likes of US, UK, France and Australia, Philippines made it to the top 10 source countries of foreign workers in Canada. More than 21, 000 Filipino workers were admitted in Canada last year, making it occupy the 2nd slot as top source country of foreign workers. This has been consistent since 2003.

There has been a sharp increase of 20% in the number of Filipino workers admitted in Canada from more than 17, 000 workers in 2005 to 21,000 workers in 2006. US tops the list with more than 24,000 workers entering Canada and Mexico comes in 3rd with more than 15,000 workers admitted under the Temporary Worker Program.

The government’s Foreign Worker Program has been one of the options of Canadian employers that allow them to bring foreign workers if they can provide sufficient evidence that they cannot find Canadian workers to fill in their vacancies.

Though this may not be a permanent solution to Canada's dwindling workforce and aging population, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is helping to solve current labor problems and maintain Canada's vibrant economy. Alternatively, it is a stepping stone to getting a permanent resident visa to Canada.[Gateway to Canada]