Canada, 5 million expiring visa holders expected to ‘voluntarily’ leave Canada.
Mark Miller, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Immigration, said that he expects 5 million temporary residents whose visas are expiring to leave Canada voluntarily next year.
Minister Miller made this announcement at the House of Commons Citizenship and Immigration Committee meeting on Monday, the 25th. Conservative MP Tom Mieck asked how the 4.9 million temporary visa holders with expiring visas and permits will leave the country.
In response, Minister Miller said, “A large number of visas that have been applied for will not be renewed.”
When Mieck asked specific measures for how expiring visa holders will leave, Minister Miller said, “These people will leave voluntarily,” and added that he will work with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to investigate and prosecute those who violate immigration laws.
In addition, Mieck asked about expiring international student visas. Asked whether the CBSA would track 766,000 international students, Minister Miller explained that international students have several options to stay longer, including on renewed visas or on post-graduation work permits (PGWPs).
Minister Miller added that he will soon introduce legislation to reform the immigration and asylum system.
In this regard, the federal government has decided to reduce its immigration target by at least 20 per cent next year, with the permanent residency target being reduced from 500,000 to 395,000. The number of temporary residents is also expected to fall by 5 per cent by 2026.