Refugee Applications from Eight More Countries will be Processed Quicker

“Faster processing of asylum claims from generally safe countries is an essential feature of Canada’s new faster and fairer refugee system. Our new system provides protection more quickly to genuine refugees, while removing individuals whose claims are rejected from the country faster,” said Minister Kenney.

The second list of designated countries includes:

• Mexico
• Israel (which excludes Gaza and the West Bank)
• Japan
• Norway
• Iceland
• New Zealand
• Australia
• Switzerland

Including the designation of these eight countries, effective February 15, 2013, 35 countries appear on the designated countries list, which already includes most countries in the European Union (EU), Croatia and the United States.

(According to CIC News Release.)