Page 1 of 1: Visa loophole - canada Officials scramble to close gap from

RxPG_Team · Credits: 19656091 My Scrapbook My Reading List 5 Books

Visa loophole

Officials scramble to close gap from India
By TOM GODFREY - TORONTO SUN

Canadian visa officers worldwide are on the lookout for phony police clearance certificates being used by Indian nationals to prove they're crime-free to obtain visas to travel here. Police and opposition critics said the security loophole can lead to criminals or terrorists being allowed into Canada and are calling for more extensive checks of documents used by potential immigrants from India.

NO CENTRAL REGISTRY

The alert was sounded by Tony Mili, Canada 's top visa officer in New Delhi, whose office processes nearly all the cases from India.

"As is well known, India does not have a central index of convicted individuals," Mili told immigration officials. "Convictions are kept in neighbourhood police stations."

He said immigrants applying to come to Canada must provide a police security certificate from a senior superintendent of police from their district.

PAPERS EASILY FORGED

Canadian visa officers in India said the certificates can be easily forged or purchased from corrupt policemen.

Immigration spokesman Jean-Pierre Morin said officers are given enhanced training, screening aids and sessions on organized crime and fraud.

He said greater focus is being placed on organized crime, intelligence reporting and the training of airlines staff. He said immigrants nabbed with fake papers can be charged.

		Sign In New User? Sign Up Sign in to access your control panel and messenger!
				TechZone \| SpiderNevi \| HowTo? \| Scrapbook!