Response to: Embassy Magazine "Saudi Arabia slows Canadian visa processing" November 30th, 2011
http://embassymag.ca/page/view/saudi-11-30-2011
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To: The Editor, Embassy Magazine.
From: Allan Nichols, President and Founder, The Canadian Expat Association
Re: Your article "Saudi Arabia slows visa processing" (November 30, 2011)
As an organization representing Canadians who live and work overseas, I was disappointed to read your article regarding the implementation of slow visa processing times by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The way in which governments demand and process visas can impact the health of a country's economy. The contribution expats make is vital and necessary in the development of any country. The current dispute between Canada and Saudi Arabia, if left unchecked, will harm the reputation of both nations as a place to attract qualified and skilled individuals.
At the Canadian Expat Association, we have maintained that if visa's are required, the utmost should be done to streamline that process while ensuring the safety and security of all those involved. We would encourage the Kingdom to rescind its "go slow approach" and ask that the Canadian government work towards improving it's own processing times.
About the Canadian Expat Association
The Canadian Expat Association is a Non-Government community linking all Canadians living abroad under one bilingual platform. At nearly 9% of the total population of Canada, the estimated 2.8 million Canadians living abroad can connect regardless of where they are living in the world.