As part of its global efforts to facilitate migration and support
governments, IOM will open a Canadian visa application centre
(CANVAC) in the West African country of Mali today, 16th December.

The centre, to be opened in association with the Canadian
Embassy in Bamako, is located at the IOM offices in the Malian
capital.

IOM will ensure the accurate and efficient processing of visa
applications for those seeking to obtain temporary resident visas
for Canada as well as Canadian permanent residents needing to
replace their documentation. Only properly completed forms will be
submitted by IOM to the Canadian Embassy in the Senegalese capital,
Dakar, for processing and decision-making.

"border: 1px solid rgb(51, 102, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 200px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% rgb(153, 204, 255); float: right; clear: right;">
"padding: 3px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% rgb(51, 102, 204);">Related
Link alt="" border="0" height="12" hspace="0" src=
"/jahia/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/shared/mainsite/graphics/interface/icons_buttons/blue_link_box.gif"> "http://www.canvac.iom.int" target="_blank" title="">IOM Canadian
Visa Application Centres in West Africa

About 1,350 applications are expected to be processed at CANVAC
annually.

IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa Carmela Godeau
notes that CANVAC will play an important role in providing
temporary migrants in Mali travelling to Canada with efficient
international migration services with accurate and easily
understood information.

Other IOM Offices in the region providing similar visa services
for the Canadian government for which a fee is also collected
include Niger, Guinea, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

About 9,800 people each year have been applying for temporary
visas in these five countries where visa application centres have
already been established for study, official visits, conferences or
short stay reasons.

A website "http://www.canvac.iom.int" target="_blank" title=
"">www.canvac.iom.int is now online with full details including
the addresses of IOM offices in the respective West African
countries where IOM provides the visa processing services for
Canada and opening hours.

For more information please contact:

Moctar Thiero

IOM Mali

Tel: +223 20 29 05 42

E-mail: "mailto:mthiero@iom.int">mthiero@iom.int