Outgames guests in entry-visa limbo

[Guest Warwick Green]

Much ado about nothing or are the feds deliberately holding up the visas? Those responsible should remember that Steve is really going for Quebec votes.

This summer's First World Outgames in Montreal have hit a major visa snafu.

With less than two weeks to go before a human rights conference tied to the Outgames begins, about 250 of 315 specially invited participants from overseas are still in limbo over whether they will be allowed into Canada.

About eight of every 10 of those guests - scheduled to fly in on an all-expenses-paid basis from such nations as Brazil and Congo - haven't been granted the visas they require to enter the country, games organizers say.

The visa process is supposed to work quickly. Citizenship and Immigration figures show 72 per cent of visa applications from overseas are processed within 48 hours....

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/stor...8dd094e&k=43438

[Riverwind]

Much ado about nothing or are the feds deliberately holding up the visas?

Openly gay people from conservative countries are more likely to claim refugee status. The hold up could be for that reason - if so it is perfectly justified.

[Charles Anthony]

I will take it one step further. I would not doubt that it is a set-up or a trap.

From the same article:

Asked yesterday for more details about the controversy, Outgames organizers turned mum. Roy declined to be interviewed.

They make a public accusation and refuse an interview. I do not trust them.

Immigration Department official Lesley Harmer said, "We've asked our missions to review all the lists" of overseas invitees provided by Outgames organizers "and report on the visas issued, refused and in process.

---snip---

The majority haven't shown up in the federal government's records because the visa applications haven't been submitted, or are in the mail, or contain an incorrect birth date, or don't contain a file number, or for other reasons, she added.

"We have confirmed through our visa office records that, to date, fewer than half" of the 250 "have actually submitted a visa application," she said.

[Guest Warwick Green]

Much ado about nothing or are the feds deliberately holding up the visas?

Openly gay people from conservative countries are more likely to claim refugee status. The hold up could be for that reason - if so it is perfectly justified.

There could well be legimate reasons for the delays, if in fact there are delays. It is to be noted that the organizers of the Outgames are short on evidence that there is any kind of concerted effort to deny visas.