Editor,

The Canadian High Commission to Rwanda has been made aware that there continues to be some misunderstanding regarding the information requested for the processing of Temporary Entry Visas to Canada for Rwandan citizens.

Canada’s Privacy and Access to Information legislation protects the information presented to our officials in support of applications for entry to Canada and Rwandans enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other applicant. However, Canada is equally committed
to a policy of "no safe haven” for individuals where reasonable grounds exist to believe they have participated in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide. To that end the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) renders such individuals legally inadmissible to Canada.

To assist with our screening of such individuals, Canada developed country-specific supplementary information forms which are designed to identify persons of possible concern. In response to concerns raised with us concerning these forms for Rwandan applicants, specific questions regarding ethnicity were removed in 2008.

All the information in the current questionnaire is necessary to ensure the thorough screening of applications from foreign nationals wishing to enter Canada and reduces processing times by ensuring that follow-up contact with applicants is not necessary. As a result, visa processing times for Rwandan applications are broadly comparable to other countries in the region.

Visa applications and details of other requirements and of Canadian procedures can be found on our website:

www.international.gc.ca/kenya <https://mail.google.com/mail/html/compose/static_files/
 
Richard Le Bars
Counsellor