Over 70% of visa applications from Indians who applied to ostensibly attend the ongoing World Cup fixtures in Canada were rejected, according to data from the country’s immigration department.
According to the outlet CTV News, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processed nearly 17,000 visitor visa applications for the global football tournament. Only 41% of those were approved.
Indians formed the fourth largest cohort in terms of applications, with 1,225. Of those, just 355, or about 29% were approved.
Leading the field were Ghanaians, who had 1,725 applications but less than 11% were okayed IRCC. Ghana played Panama in Toronto on June 17.
Next of the list were Colombians with 1,630 applications, and nearly 70% of them were approved.
Surprisingly, the third highest number of applications came from Pakistan, with 1,250. Just 102, or less than nine per cent were approved.
The outlet’s analysis was based on IRCC data from November 15 last year to March 31 this year.
The ongoing World Cup is being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the last staging a total of 13 fixtures in Toronto and Vancouver.
In January this year, the Canadian government stressed that there was no special FIFA visa that would allow the holder to work or settle in the country. That statement came after a slew of misleading videos and posts emerged on social media promising such pathways to visitors obtaining a travel document for the football World Cup this summer.
In a message, IRCC said, “Certain videos circulating on social media are sharing misleading information about travelling to Canada during the FIFA World Cup 26. Let’s be clear: there is no ‘FIFA visa’ or special visitor visa for the World Cup that allows you to work or settle in Canada.”
-Hindustan Times
According to the outlet CTV News, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processed nearly 17,000 visitor visa applications for the global football tournament. Only 41% of those were approved.
Indians formed the fourth largest cohort in terms of applications, with 1,225. Of those, just 355, or about 29% were approved.
Leading the field were Ghanaians, who had 1,725 applications but less than 11% were okayed IRCC. Ghana played Panama in Toronto on June 17.
Next of the list were Colombians with 1,630 applications, and nearly 70% of them were approved.
Surprisingly, the third highest number of applications came from Pakistan, with 1,250. Just 102, or less than nine per cent were approved.
The outlet’s analysis was based on IRCC data from November 15 last year to March 31 this year.
The ongoing World Cup is being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the last staging a total of 13 fixtures in Toronto and Vancouver.
In January this year, the Canadian government stressed that there was no special FIFA visa that would allow the holder to work or settle in the country. That statement came after a slew of misleading videos and posts emerged on social media promising such pathways to visitors obtaining a travel document for the football World Cup this summer.
In a message, IRCC said, “Certain videos circulating on social media are sharing misleading information about travelling to Canada during the FIFA World Cup 26. Let’s be clear: there is no ‘FIFA visa’ or special visitor visa for the World Cup that allows you to work or settle in Canada.”
-Hindustan Times
