IOM Launches Canadian Visa Application Centre in Mali

GENEVA, Switzerland, December 16, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- As part of its global efforts to facilitate migration and support governments, IOM will open a Canadian visa application centre (CANVAC) in the West African country of Mali today, 16th December.

The centre, to be opened in association with the Canadian Embassy in Bamako, is located at the IOM offices in the Malian capital.

IOM will ensure the accurate and efficient processing of visa applications for those seeking to obtain temporary resident visas for Canada as well as Canadian permanent residents needing to replace their documentation. Only properly completed forms will be submitted by IOM to the Canadian Embassy in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, for processing and decision-making.

About 1,350 applications are expected to be processed at CANVAC annually.

IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa Carmela Godeau notes that CANVAC will play an important role in providing temporary migrants in Mali travelling to Canada with efficient international migration services with accurate and easily understood information.

Other IOM Offices in the region providing similar visa services for the Canadian government for which a fee is also collected include Niger, Guinea, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

About 9,800 people each year have been applying for temporary visas in these five countries where visa application centres have already been established for study, official visits, conferences or short stay reasons.

A website www.canvac.iom.int is now online with full details including the addresses of IOM offices in the respective West African countries where IOM provides the visa processing services for Canada and opening hours.