Canadian visa procedure for Saudis eased

Saudi Arabia and Canada have taken bilateral relations to new heights, with a common resolve to cooperate on key issues confronting the Middle East and to hold a joint economic commission meeting next year.
Canada has also introduced new measures to ease visa procedures for Saudi nationals.
The renewed move comes following wide-ranging talks held by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird with senior Saudi leaders, which focused on a host of bilateral, regional and security issues, particularly efforts to combat the so-called Islamic State (IS),” said Canadian Ambassador Tom MacDonald here Saturday.
During his stay in Jeddah on Wednesday and Thursday, Baird held constructive and wide-ranging discussions with Crown Prince Salman and Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal.
Baird also met with Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif, and Iyad Madani, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
During the visit, Baird toured the Prince Mohammed Bin Naif Counseling and Care Center, a center aimed at reforming extremists.
Referring to key regional issues, MacDonald said that the Assad regime has long been a state sponsor of terrorism and has financed and supported extremists throughout the region.
On the Middle East peace process, he said Canada is committed to the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region, including the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel.
Asked about the new measures to ease and simplify visa process for Saudis, Ambassador MacDonald said that “Canada is issuing the vast majority of visas for Saudis now within 10 working days or less and three weeks for students."
“We have also introduced a number of changes to facilitate visitors’ travel to Canada,” he noted.
He said the Canadian mission has also introduced online applications.
In addition, Canada has opened three Visa Application Centers (VACs) in Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar.
MacDonald further explained that visitors to Canada benefit from the multiple entry visa, which allows Saudis to come and go from Canada for six months at a time for up to five years.