We respectfully wish to request that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada facilitate to help reduce the visa processing time for Nigerians who wish to travel to Canada for business. This is because, compared to other countries whose visa processing time is short, Canada Visa processing time take about 3 months. This discourages well-heeled businessmen with huge net-worth because the waiting time is too long for them. For instance, in Nigeria, it takes 3 days to get a US visa; 2 weeks to get a UK visa; 15 working days to get a SCHENGEN visa; 2 weeks to get a Chinese visa; 2 weeks to get a Turkish visa; 2 weeks to get an Indian visa; 14 days to get a South African visa and 24 hours to get a UAE visa. All these places are business destination competing with Canada to attract foreign investment and tourist. Companies like ours which is registered in Canada and is working to improve the relationship between both countries often find it not too easy to convince these businessmen to apply for Canadian visa.

People are often rejected visa based on excuses that are not justifiable. There are instances where businessmen with millions of naira in their personal and company account statements are denied visa on the excuse of insufficient funds. Some are rejected visa for insufficient ties even when the objective for their trip is sufficiently stated as business conference.  

We are further encouraged by the mandate letter of the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P to the office of Honourable Ahmed D. Hussen MP. The excerpts below convince us that our letter will bring your attention to the plight of Nigerian businessmen and travelers who want to come to Nigeria.

‘As Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, your overarching goal will be to continue welcoming those who want to contribute to our country’s success.  Canadians are open, accepting, and generous – qualities that should be reflected in Canada’s immigration policies...In particular, I will expect you to work with your colleagues and through established legislative, regulatory and Cabinet processes to deliver on your top priorities: Conduct a review of the visa policy framework, including its application to the transit of passengers through Canada, in a way that promotes economic growth while ensuring program integrity.’

We hope the government of Canada will initiate steps to make it easy for Nigerian businessmen and travelers to come into Canada to do business so that both countries can leverage on the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) between both countries signed on May 6, 2015, in Abuja.