Canadian Bar Association Meeting with Mexico City Program Manager

MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD WITH MR. MICHAEL FRANCOMB, IMMIGRATION PROGRAM MANAGER AT THE CANADIAN EMBASSY IN MEXICO CITY
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1. GENERAL OPERATIONS:

The immigration section of the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City is rather small with one Canadian based officer, Mr. Michael Francomb and one designated immigration officer,Lourdes Hernandez. There are six locally engaged staff.

Forty percent (40%) of the workload is the processing of Quebec cases received from the Quebec immigration office in Mexico City. The balance, sixty percent (60%) is received from those residing in Mexico. Processing time is currently less than nine (9) months.

All cases are treated equally, but, for offshore cases, they are regularly referred to the immigration post responsible for the area the principal applicant normally resides. There are no waivers of interviews for Canadian independent cases except for those of the family class. There are no area
trips. Business cases received are mainly off-shore from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Perfected applications for all Canadian cases is required. The office encourages a simplified process where all documents are provided at the time of submission of the application. Since the office is relatively small, personalized service is provided where applicants are assisted in preparing their applications for
permanent residence prior to submission.

Where interpreters are deemed useful they must be independent and effective, but licensing is not required.

Mr. Francomb indicated that the program is managed to ensure that the laws, regulations and directives are followed and that the integrity of the program is left intact to the benefit of all parties.

In all cases, applicants are called to an interview, but, this does not mean that they are necessarily seen by a visa officer. An applicant who is approved in principle is often merely called for an interview to receive his permanent immigration visa.

2. QUEBEC CASES:

Quebec cases received from the Quebec immigration office in Mexico City are not considered off-shore and these cases are treated expeditiously and generally without the need for an
interview.

Generally no interviews are held for Quebec permanent immigration cases. There are also no selection interviews for Quebec working permit cases.

3. CONCLUSION:

Mr. Francomb indicated that he is quite satisfied with the integrity of the system in Mexico City as there is very little evidence of fraudulent documentation. All documents are easily verified given that most of the workload for the Canadian cases comes from applicants who are working and living in Mexico. This is a full service center covering the territorial region of Mexico.