In the weeks leading up to the 24th International AIDS Conference, the long delays in applying for visas had been heavily criticized by participants and organizers.
In late July, the President of the International AIDS Society even addressed the Canadian government on the stage of the Palais des Congrès de Montréal, while demonstrations condemned the authorities’ numerous denials of these residency applications.
Radio-Canada received the quantified assessment of this summit. And it’s surprising.
Almost 300 asylum applications
If we have known for a long time that some foreign participants in international meetings take the opportunity to flee their country of origin, this phenomenon was particularly noticeable after this conference.
As of Sept. 30, 251 people who received visas to attend the AIDS conference have applied for asylum in Canada, according to federal data.
They could do this immediately upon their arrival at the airport or at any time thereafter as this visitor visa is valid for a maximum period of six months.
According to our information, this number has continued to increase and to date almost 300 guests of this meeting have applied for asylum.
Where do these asylum seekers come from? We have not received this exact information, but it is mainly from Africa.
The local co-president of this summit, Dr. Jean-Pierre Routy is not surprised by these data. It is not new that people use a congress to try to immigrate. At every AIDS conference, whether in Europe or the United States, it’s the same thing, he adds.
The same problem could arise at COP15, he adds, pointing to the World Conference on Biodiversity taking place in Montreal from December 7-19, where thousands of visitors are expected.
“The government has to be aware that people who come from a developing country want to stay. It’s a classic. »
— A quote from Dr. Jean-Pierre Routy, Professor of Medicine at McGill University
In recent weeks, lawyer Stéphanie Valois has received in her office in Montreal African and Haitian participants in this conference on AIDS who wish to apply for asylum.
In her country, she explains, they are fired and convicted as soon as it becomes known that they have the disease.
“These are not outlandish asylum applications. These are heavy and sad files. »
— A quote from Stéphanie Valois, immigration lawyer
AIDS is a big problem in many countries. We can understand that people who have witnessed their story want to stay in Canada. They are often afraid of persecution in their country, she says.
Everyone thinks that people apply for refugee status to avoid war or for political reasons. But not only that, adds Stéphanie Valois.
More than a thousand rejections, mainly for Africa
Most recently, however, the Federal Foreign Office publicly claimed that it had not found any lack of processing of visa applications for this international meeting.
However, the numbers obtained by Radio-Canada give a different reading.
2,811 visas were applied for in Ottawa for this conference, which brings together thousands of people from more than a hundred countries.
Overall, more than a third of these applications (1020) were rejected and 150 of these are still pending, although this peak ended in early August.
The distribution of these discharges varies greatly by continent. The vast majority of these affect people from Africa. Eight of the top ten countries in terms of rejections are actually in Africa.
Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria make up that unenviable podium, and for these countries more applications have been refused than visas have been granted.
Launch of the widget. Skip the widget?
end of the widget. Back to the top of the widget?
Attorney Stéphanie Valois explains that visas are often denied without any real reason. The priority for agents is to see if these people return home, but they sometimes forget to look at the candidates’ travel history. Some, if they wanted to leave their country, could have done so beforehand.
However, Immigration Canada sees it differently and advocates careful consideration of these applications.
“All applications will be processed fairly, impartially and in accordance with Canadian immigration laws. »
— A quote from Isabelle Dubois, spokeswoman for Immigration Canada
Before issuing a visa, according to Isabelle Dubois, spokeswoman for Immigration Canada, “Federal officials consider many factors to determine whether an applicant is a lawful temporary resident, including the following factors:”
- the person’s ties to their country of origin;
- the purpose of the visit;
- the family and economic situation of the person;
- the general economic and political stability of the country of origin;
- Invitations from Canadian hosts.
Although the ministry is able to expedite visa processing, it cannot grant special treatment or exempt participants and invited officials from visa requirements, she said.