Admissibility to Canada

Admissibility to Canada The Government of Canada is working to improve the visa process and modernize programs by centralizing more of its overseas processing in Canada. Overseas visa screening is a key tool in preventing entry of individuals who may pose a threat to the safety and security of Canadians, and to maintain program integrity of the immigration and refugee systems. Canada has specific requirements for who can and cannot enter Canada and the type of identification they require. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is vigilant in determining the admissibility of individuals by verifying identification and checking for violations of Canadian law. The CBSA also manages the "Wanted by the CBSA program" to enlist the help of the public in identifying particular individuals to execute the warrants for their removal. In 2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in consultation with the CBSA and other federal partners, launched a review of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 's inadmissibility and related provisions to ensure that immigration and border officials continue to have the tools necessary to maintain the integrity of Canada's immigration system. The review also examined a number of recurrent issues that have surfaced since the implementation of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in 2002. As a result of the review, legislative changes were proposed in the Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act to make it easier to remove dangerous foreign criminals and make it harder for those who pose a risk to Canadians to come to the country, while removing barriers for genuine visitors. The Government also manages the War Crimes Program which seeks to deny war criminals and officials from designated regimes safe haven in Canada through visa screening, exclusions from the refugee process, citizenship revocation, removal from Canada, criminal investigations and prosecutions. Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness On February 4, 2011, the Prime Minister of Canada and the President of the United States issued a Declaration, Declaration on a Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness . The Declaration established a new long-term partnership built upon a perimeter approach to security and economic competitiveness. This means working together, not just at the border, but beyond the border to enhance our security and accelerate the legitimate flow of people, goods and services. In December 2011, to implement the Declaration, the leaders launched the Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness . The Action Plan outlines a range of initiatives. It also called for Canada and the United States to generate a joint Beyond the Border implementation report annually for a three year period.

Public Safety Canada is one of many federal departments and agencies working to implement the Action Plan and is leading the development and implementation of several initiatives. Below is a list of action items for which Public Safety is responsible, as well as links to key news releases and public documents for further information on specific items.  Addressing threats early o Enhance understanding of the threat environment through joint assessments o Share information and intelligence in support of law enforcement and national security, respecting each country's respective constitutional and legal frameworks o Cooperation to countering violent extremism in both countries  Trade facilitation, economic growth and jobs o Implement additional pre-inspection and pre-clearance initiatives  News Release on Truck Cargo Pilot o Bring greater transparency and accountability to border fees and changes  Border fee inventory  Border fee study  Cross-border law enforcement o Cooperate on national security and transnational criminal investigations  Canada-United States Shiprider o Provide interoperable radio capability for law enforcement actors  Critical infrastructure and cyber security o Enhance cross-border critical infrastructure protection and resilience  Canada-United States Action Plan for Critical Infrastructure o Protect government and digital infrastructure  Cyber Security Action Plan between Public Safety Canada and the Department of Homeland Security o Expand joint leadership on international cyber-security efforts o Develop a framework for swiftly managing traffic in the event of an emergency  News Release on Canada - United States joint plan for emergency border traffic management  Considerations for United States - Canada Border Traffic Disruption Management 2012 o Enhance our collective preparedness for health security threats o Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Emergency Management  News Release on Harmonizing Cross Border Emergency Communications  News Release on Canada-United States cooperation for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives Preparedness  Other Beyond the Border Initiatives o Develop joint statement of joint Canada-United States privacy principles  News Release on Privacy Principles  Canada-United States Joint Statement of Privacy Principles

 Backgrounder: Beyond the Border Action Plan Joint Statement of Privacy Principles For Further information on Beyond the Border initiatives:  Other Canadian partners include: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Citizenship and Immigration (CIC) , Privy Council Office , the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Transport Canada Border Law Enforcement Through its Border Law Enforcement initiatives, Public Safety Canada provides law enforcement with the necessary tools to enhance border integrity both at and between land and marine ports of entry. Public Safety Canada supports ongoing dialogue between Canada and the United States on strategic and operational border policy issues, develops and implements innovative cross-border law enforcement practices and models relating to the movement of goods both at and between land and marine ports of entry and provides policy advice, leadership and horizontal coordination to Public Safety Portfolio agencies and other federal departments regarding border issues. Key border law enforcement initiatives Public Safety Canada leads with Portfolio and departmental partners include:  Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations (Shiprider)  Project Concept  Marine Security Enforcement Teams  Marine Security Operations Centres Immigration Enforcement Public Safety Canada provides federal policy leadership and coordination on a variety of immigration-related border issues to ensure that policies and programs help facilitate the flow of legitimate trade and travel, while ensuring that safety and security objectives are achieved. Key immigration enforcement initiatives where Public Safety Canada is involved include:  Admissibility provisions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act  Biometrics  Refugee Reform  Citizenship modernization Preclearance in Canada and the United States