In the weeks leading up to the 24th International AIDS Conference, the long delays in applying for visas had been heavily criticized by participants and organizers.

In late July, the President of the International AIDS Society even addressed the Canadian government on the stage of the Palais des Congrès de Montréal, while demonstrations condemned the authorities’ numerous denials of these residency applications.

Radio-Canada received the quantified assessment of this summit. And it’s surprising.

Almost 300 asylum applications

If we have known for a long time that some foreign participants in international meetings take the opportunity to flee their country of origin, this phenomenon was particularly noticeable after this conference.

As of Sept. 30, 251 people who received visas to attend the AIDS conference have applied for asylum in Canada, according to federal data.

They could do this immediately upon their arrival at the airport or at any time thereafter as this visitor visa is valid for a maximum period of six months.

According to our information, this number has continued to increase and to date almost 300 guests of this meeting have applied for asylum.

Where do these asylum seekers come from? We have not received this exact information, but it is mainly from Africa.

The local co-president of this summit, Dr. Jean-Pierre Routy is not surprised by these data. It is not new that people use a congress to try to immigrate. At any AIDS convention, whether in Europe or the United States, it’s the samehe nuances.

The same problem could arise at COP15he adds, referring to the world conference on biodiversity that will take place in Montreal from December 7th to 19th, where thousands of visitors are expected.

” The government must be aware that people who come from a developing country want to stay. It’s a classic. »

In recent weeks, lawyer Stéphanie Valois has received in her office in Montreal African and Haitian participants in this conference on AIDS who wish to apply for asylum.

In her country, she explains, They will be discharged and assessed once it is known that they have the disease.

” It’s not the asylum applications that are off the mark. These are heavy and sad files. »

AIDS is a big problem in many countries. We can understand that people who have witnessed their story want to stay in Canada. They often fear persecution in their countryShe says.

Everyone thinks that people apply for refugee status to avoid war or for political reasons. But that’s not alladds Stephanie Valois.

More than a thousand rejections, mainly for Africa

Most recently, however, the Federal Foreign Office publicly claimed that it had not found any lack of processing of visa applications for this international meeting.

However, the numbers obtained by Radio-Canada give a different reading.

2,811 visas were applied for in Ottawa for this conference, which brings together thousands of people from more than a hundred countries.

Overall, more than a third of these applications (1020) were rejected and 150 of these are still pending, although this peak ended in early August.

The distribution of these discharges varies greatly by continent. The vast majority of these affect people from Africa. Eight of the top ten countries in terms of rejections are actually in Africa.

Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria make up that unenviable podium, and for these countries more applications have been refused than visas have been granted.

Attorney Stéphanie Valois explains that visas are often denied without any real reason. The priority for agents is to see if these people return home, but they sometimes forget to look at the candidates’ travel history. Some, if they wanted to leave their country, could have done so beforehand.

However, Immigration Canada sees it differently and advocates careful consideration of these applications.

” All applications will be processed fairly, impartially and in accordance with Canadian immigration laws. »

Before issuing a visa, according to Isabelle Dubois, spokeswoman for Immigration Canada, “Federal officials consider many factors to determine whether an applicant is a lawful temporary resident, including the following factors:”

• the person’s ties to their country of origin;
• the purpose of the visit;
• the family and economic situation of the person;
• the general economic and political stability of the country of origin;
• Invitations from Canadian hosts.

While the Department is able to expedite visa processing, it cannot grant special treatment or exempt participants and invited officials from the visa requirement.assures her.