Canada Should Reduce Visa Application Fees
December 17, 2007In Canada, we enjoy first-class social services such as healthcare and education. To pay for these services, the government has a number of sources of revenue... from income taxes to goods and services taxes (VAT). While most government services are free to the user, some - including visa services - charge fees to cover administrative costs.
When one applies for a Canadian visa, whether it is for a visit or for Permanent Residency, there is a fee charged for the processing of the application. These fees paid to the government range between $75 and $1050, depending on the type of application. While this is expensive, it is acceptable so long as it represents the actual costs of the service provided. A lawsuit before the Federal Court of Canada, however, is accusing Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) of charging fees way out of line with the actual costs.
The government should not be profiting from the fees it charges for its services. The court case launched by a British Columbia couple alleges-based on CIC's own calculations - that CIC had been overcharging by at least 100% over the past 10 years. With CIC collecting over $200 million each year in application fees, they are profiting to the tune of over $100 million. This is unfair treatment of immigrants-CIC should not be making profits on application fees, and certainly not by such a large margin.
Permanent Resident applicants should not be used as cash machines for the Canadian government. The government will already benefit from their tax dollars as they contribute to the economy. It is not right to ask immigrants to carry more than their share of the burden of paying for the general operation of government.
When the government earns profits from application fees, this amounts to a form of extra taxation. Yet while other taxes in Canada have to be approved by parliament, visa application fees do not, making them a form of taxation without representation, and this goes against the basic principles of Canadian democracy.
Asking individuals to cover the cost of their visa applications is fair. Using these applications to earn profits to pay for other government services is not. Immigrants are important contributors to the success of the Canadian economy. They should be treated with respect, and not taken advantage of.
16 Comments:
I totally agree with this issue. As an applicant, we have to pay everything, and get a depressed response, no active progress for us, we have to wait, wait and wait.
Since many vacancies there in Canda, and await for proper candidates, but we have to apply by ourselves, or pay a big amount to the agents!!
Besides, the officers always lost our profiles, need to re-send again!!
What a disaster for us!!
I m totally agree with this point. we need to pay a huge amount for everything and still we hardly get any satisfactory response.
There are so many job opportunities in canada but we have to apply through the agents after paying big amounts.!
visa application fees shoud reduced.
Chris
Those who apply for visitors visa - incase they are rejected ...should atleast be given 50% or more back...
firstly they have been denied a visa and second they have lost a lot of money....
Once bitten twice shy....
I’m not surprised by this. We are at the end of the skilled worker immigration process and so far have spent $2500 on application fees plus $1500 for medicals. In total, before I even move our family to Canada, we have had to spend $4000.
The level of service we have received for our $2500 outlay has been very poor. We were expected to wait for years with no communication from the Canadian Consulate. It doesn’t feel like we have had value for money. Even if there was some way to complain would someone in the middle of the immigration process dare to?
I mentioned the medical fees earlier because, in my opinion, the Canadian government may not be the only organization profiting from the process. The Canadian government have a list of medical partners that potential immigrants must use. Our medical was $1500 for a one hour appointment. This is wasn’t one hour for each family member but one hour to see all of us. The fee did include two x-rays but this seemed very expensive considering the amount of work involved.
As potential immigrants we have no choice but to follow the process, pay the fees and hope. If this case is successful will others be able to reclaim a part of their fess?
You are so right!....I just recently started to search info about immigrating to Canada, and I am astonished HOW EXPENSIVE IS!....and seems as you have not choice, either you apply through CIC site or a lawyer...In addition CIC has not guarantee when you will get your visa...My question is: who is getting benefits of all applicant's money?..and if it is so expensive, why the process is so slow?....There are so many great opportunities in Canada, as well as Canada is needing people to work in its companies and make its economy grow.....The Canadian government must reduce all its charge fees, and make this process easier and shorter.
We only want to immigrate to improve our quality of life, and give to our children and family a better future!...
I support the idea that visa application fees are to high and need to be reviewed. since they want to pen their doors to immigrants they should be also considerate to Africans who have the needed skills but find it very difficult to raise the huge amounts of money needed to migrate. We are anxious to hear something refreshing.
Earlier comments on this blog are well valid. In my opinion, it depends on whether you are looking at the glass "half empty" or "half full". At the end of the day, prospective immigrants are looking for better lives or greener pastures. This is the reality and the government knows that.
They will continue to keep their fees high, because they know that people would always want to immigrate to their country. It is the law of supply and demand. That could be the reason why the processing times are so long.
I am sure that if there were not so many people interested in moving to Canada, the fees would have been more reasonable and affordable.
All the comments above are valid points. The reason for the high fees are probably due to high demands.
In my opinion, they will keep the fees high for as long as people continue to apply for the process. But let's put a positive spin on this issue. Inspite of all the expenses, I think that at the end of the day, it'a all worth it. It all depends on whether you are looking at the glass "half empty" or "half full".
All the comments above are valid points. The reason for the high fees are probably due to high demands.
In my opinion, they will keep the fees high for as long as people continue to apply for the process. But let's put a positive spin on this issue. Inspite of all the expenses, I think that at the end of the day, it'a all worth it. It all depends on whether you are looking at the glass "half empty" or "half full".
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I totally disagree with your comments.
Government service is to provide service to general public and it should not be considered a "profit-oriented institutions."
A fees collected from the public should be commensurated to the service being offered/delivered.
Just for the sake of an argument, how can you expect a high percentage of "good skilled &/or talented immigrants" be a part of growing economy of Canada but lack of manpower if you exacting exobirant visa application fees?
And, I agree with the comment of Patricia that "We only want to immigrate to improve our quality of life, and give to our children and family a better future!"
But you have to simplify the procedures and make it faster. We are now in the 20th Century!!!
Everyone has an agreeable comment, but it is their (Canada) law, it is their way of getting in return interests, "taxes" and "services" done. But to mention losing files? After paying? Negligence or Corruption? To consider imagining thousands of applicants a day may in turn to wait, and this is understandable, so applicants should have their applications numbered to avoid the loss (or for purpose of follow-up). And I hope they have. Reducing fees - it is up to them. God Bless us all.
Pinay: I totally agree with the comment that Canada is charging too high fees. At the end of the day, Canada benefits the most from the contributions made by these immigrants. So why charge, exhorbitant fees? Since Canada needs to have more immigrants, the process should be made simpler and shorter and, less costly.
I totally agree with these comments. However, I am more concerned about the time factor. This process is taking forever!! I applied as a skilled worker in 2005 and still waiting.... If we new one way or the other we can get on with our lives. Waiting without not knowing the outcome and when it will come through, is killing me?
I Agreed with your total condition
and why lot of agency are try to play with poor people spacialy in tcn country such you required if posible try to issue the visa for student or skilled worker to be settele their life as well and to build your counntry (canada)
The finaly I am please to ask your kind please try to get small amount of mony from the applicant and make it as soon as possible with out delay.....s.
I am totaly agree with your visa processing system and way should collect the cost of visa processing after the issuing of visa to the applicant totaly such I have been got more and more point during my profile submiting through immigration department since 2006 but every time the immigration department said we will processing your visa..............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The shame we arw geting from your wonderful deparment.
finaly my comment to you please dont make applicant as Emty at Last....O.K.
Thanks............
I also agree with this issue. CIC have made applicants as "engine" to make money. Very wrong indeed, and then, when you landed here successfully you need to start in doing hard labor. Whoever group that started this "over-charging fees" should be stop, then start the review of FEES and implement the correction as soon as possible. Let us see if after 24 months CIC will realized this and if they are willing to reduce the fee--we should let them know that we are "looking" at them.
I can't say if I agree with David's comments or not, as I don't yet have first hand knowledge of the Canadian immigration system.
However, if you think the Canadian system is expensive, look at what it costs to file in the US.
And for the money, you generally get really slow processing. Plus, the system is Byzantine. And have you heard that H1B (skilled worker) visas are going to be selected by lottery this year?
I realize the Canadian system has its flaws. Surely there should be some means testing in immigration fees. But do put things in perspective.
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