“The Embassy of Canada would like to take this opportunity to apologize for recent delays in issuing visas and for the negative impacts these might have had on Saudi applicants,” said a statement issued by the embassy on Sunday.
“The Canadian Embassy would like to assure the citizens of Saudi Arabia that it is working hard to reduce visa processing times,” it added.
According to the Saudi Cultural Bureau in Canada, there are more than 15,000 Saudis studying in more than 13 universities across the country.
In September 2010, Arab News reported on the Canadian Embassy’s efforts to speed up its visa application process by eliminating then required medical examinations for entering the country.
Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia David Chatterson announced his country’s new visa rules, which also included waiving medical examinations on temporary resident visas for Saudi visitors.
