Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney has announced that as of March 31, Lebanese citizens applying to immigrate to Canada may choose the visa office in Beirut, Lebanon as their main point of service.

Previously, the Beirut visa office only processed temporary resident applications. All Canadian immigration applications for permanent residency from Lebanon were sent to the visa office in Syria.

The Canadian immigration visa office in Beirut will receive applications, collect fees, reply to inquiries, and issue visas to applicants. Two local Lebanese staff members will be hired to provide these new services.

"This change follows up on last year's announcement, which gave immigration applicants from Lebanon the option to have their interviews conducted in their own country rather than have to travel to Syria ," explained Minister Kenney. "That was the first step. We have now expanded the services offered in Beirut to provide citizens of Lebanon access to all visitor and immigration services."

Applicants who are required to have an interview will still be able to choose whether to be interviewed in Damascus or Beirut.