Visitor Visas, Study Permits on Hold at 15 Visa Offices as Strike Continues

Beginning Monday, 15 major Canadian visa offices will temporarily shut down visitor visa and study permit processing, as visa officers escalate a general strike.

The Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) has been conducting rotating strikes at embassies and consulates around the world in response to a dispute with the Federal government over payment practices. After further negotiations failed to result in compromise, the union has decided to halt all services at Canada’s 15 largest visa offices. While this effects temporary resident visa (TRV) and study permit processing, permanent residency and temporary work permit applications are processed by other departments and remain unaffected by the strike.

The following centres will be subject to the withdrawal of PAFSO services:

Abu Dhabi
Ankara
Beijing
Cairo
Delhi/Chandigarh
Hong Kong
London
Manila
Mexico City
Moscow
Paris
Riyadh
Sao Paulo
Shanghai

Prior to this action, PAFSO’s rotating strikes have already caused a sharp rise in wait times for visas around the world. This has already negatively affected the Canadian economy, especially at the height of summer tourist season.

It is unknown when the general strike will be lifted. Stay tuned to CanadaVisa and CICNews for the latest as this story develops.