OLLO – Cameroon Visa Office – February 6, 2023

Issue Note - IRCC Opens Office In Yaoundé, Cameroon

Narrative

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continually reviews its presence around the globe, particularly from the perspective of improved client service.

In August 2022, IRCC opened a new office in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This new office allows IRCC to increase our visibility, promote immigration programs and provide faster service for applicants in the area when they send in passports to get their visas. It will also help IRCC get a better understanding of the conditions in the region so we can address any potential systemic bias.

The Minister’s Office at IRCC has decided not to proceed with a proactive News Release to announce the Yaoundé office opening, since the office does not offer front-counter service and will not normally process cases. The Government of Cameroon has expressed interest in doing a potential announcement though, so the Head of Mission requested these key messages (in case there are any media inquiries).

Key Messages

• In August 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) opened a new Immigration section at the High Commission of Canada in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
• IRCC continually reviews its presence around the globe, particularly from the perspective of improved client service. Taking into account the growing importance of the region for the international study permit program as well as for Francophone migration, IRCC is enhancing its presence in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Having officers on the ground in Cameroon will help IRCC better understand regional conditions to inform our programs and decision-making. The officers will also engage in some local outreach to help promote Canada’s immigration programs to potential applicants in the region.
• The new Immigration section will be responsible for printing visas, reducing document transit times and costs. It is important to note that the visa application center in Yaoundé will continue to be the main point of contact for IRCC clients. Clients should only go to the High Commission of Canada if they are requested to do so by an IRCC official.

Questions And Answers

Q1. Why was it important to open a visa office in Cameroon? How many staff do you have? What are their responsibilities?

As a bilingual country with a skilled workforce, Cameroon is now a key source for both Francophone and Anglophone migration to Canada. Operational since August 2022, the new IRCC office has two Canadian officers and three locally engaged employees and is located at the High Commission of Canada to Cameroon in Yaoundé.

From a client service perspective, the new Immigration section will be responsible for printing visas, reducing document transit times and costs. It is important to note that the visa application center in Yaoundé will continue to be the main point of contact for IRCC clients.

Please note that the office in Yaoundé will NOT be responsible for processing visa applications unless it is on an exceptional basis. Clients should only go to the High Commission of Canada if they are requested to do so by an IRCC official.

Q2. There are reports that point to higher refusal rates for applicants from African countries. How do you explain that?

IRCC deals with thousands of applications from people from around the world every day. We are committed to the fair and non-discriminatory application of immigration procedures. We take this responsibility seriously, and officers are trained to assess applications equally against the same criteria.

As part of our commitment to anti-racism, equity and inclusion, we are looking closely at those criteria through the lens of how they impact racialized clients, to ensure our programs and policies are fair, equitable, and culturally sensitive.

Subject Matter Experts:

Joel Coppin, International Network
Marcie Lynne Brulotte, Migration Program Manager (Yaoundé, Cameroon)