Canada ending 'Buffalo shuffle' for visas, closing consulate (in Buffalo, NY)

[pampango]

3. Will make life easier for foreigners living in Canada who want a visa change.

"For decades, foreign students and temporary workers in the Toronto area wanting to extend their stay in Canada have been forced to travel to the Buffalo consulate to apply for the necessary changes to their visas.

But the Harper government is putting an end to what became known in immigration circles as the "Buffalo shuffle" by getting rid of the requirement that foreigners have to leave the country for interviews regarding a requested visa change.

Instead, officials say, foreigners wanting to alter their visas will be able to apply and pay the necessary fees online, and if an interview with Canadian officials is necessary, they will be conducted at immigration offices in Canada.

Government statistics show that at any given time there are approximately 400,000 foreigners in Canada on various kinds of temporary visas."

Canada does a good job with their immigration system though Harper proves that he can waste millions.