根据多伦多中国领事馆网站的信息，加籍华人欲申请前往中国的旅游签证需要提供中国护照，或者有中国签证记录的已过期的加拿大护照。
中国总领事馆的网站上关于加拿大华人申请签证时上缴旧护照的通知只有简单两条。 搜索整个网站，没有看到任何有关新规定的申请细节。
世界各地的领事馆早已实行了该规定
多伦多中国领事馆首席签证官王庆权在接受《大中报》采访时表示：“多伦多领馆虽刚刚实行这一新规定(1月13日)，而中国于世界各地的领事馆，包括渥太华、温哥华、新西兰、澳洲和美国等地都早已实行了该规定。”
许多计划回中国过春节的加籍华人尚未了解这条新规定。很多加籍华人在其漫长的移民生涯中从未丢掉过每年回家过年的传统，他们珍惜这每年一次与家人团聚的机会。不过现在他们需要办一张有效的中国签证才能回家。因此，他们顶着严寒和风雪，在领馆门外排起了长长的队伍。
加籍华人对祖国有着深深的眷恋。他们思念他们的家人和朋友，也关注同胞们的安康。他们为雪灾的受害者慷慨解囊，他们向四川地震灾区踊跃捐款。
胡坚于1月27日向《大中报》投诉说，他冒着严寒在领馆门外排长队达数小时之久，但却因未能向领馆提供必需的中国护照而被拒签。
中国不承认双重国籍
王庆权表示：“中国不承认双重国籍……根据国家的有关公民身份政策，领馆要求同时拥有有效的中国护照和加拿大护照的个人在申请前往中国的签证时，到领馆的办公室注销其中国护照的手续。”
王进一步说：“许多申请者不愿意向签证办公室提供他们有效的中国护照。”
“他们往往会在申请签证时提供过期的护照……但实际上，他们许多人都拥有2006或2007年签发的有效的中国护照。”
但是这条规定对于那些无法提供有效的中国护照，或者他们的护照在新规定实施很久之前就被损、遗失或丢失的加籍华人们意味着什么呢?这条规定实际上是否是剥夺了他们回家的权利?
胡不满地问道：“作为一名老移民，我过期的中国护照早就没有用处了。我为什么要保留它?无论如何我是拿不出这样一本护照。那是不是说我就不能再回国了?”
领馆签证官有权根据具体情况对签证申请作出决定
王庆权表示：“如果签证申请者拿不出所需材料，申请者必需前往签证处对所缺材料做出解释。”
王同时补充道：“网站提供的信息只是一般规定……我们将会根据具体情况处理个案的申请……一般来说，我们的决定都会令申请者满意而归。”
但王表示，领馆签证官有权根据具体情况对签证申请作出决定。
但是哪些因素会影响签证官作出批准签证的决定?像胡一样的申请人对拿不出中国护照的原因需要如何进行解释和澄清才能令签证官信服呢? 对此，王庆权没有做任何解释。
按理说，我们很难证明某物不存在。胡告诉《大中报》，当时接待他的签证官拒绝接受他的解释。
胡表示：“他们(签证官)对签证申请者的态度让人无法接受……我是一名爱国人士……也曾为地震捐款。”
根据王的介绍，对新规定的意见或建议，以及对签证处服务质量进行投诉的人士，可以亲自前往位于St. George Street的多伦多领事馆，或拨打416-964-6838(签证办公室)或应急热线416-964-8861，也可以传真至416-324-9010，或发送电子邮件至visaoffice@rogers.com。
网友milka也爆料说：
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已经成为加拿大公民了，想回国探亲，但却遭遇了中国大使馆1月13号正式颁令的新规则： 中国公民加入外国国籍后，第一次持外国护照或持新换发的外国护照申请中国签证时，须一并出示本人原中国护照原件或旧外国护照复印件、以往中国签证记录复印件。 所以现在我无力提供原来的护照了。就算我现在补办也不可能了，因为我已经是加拿大公民了。 去了大使馆，他们说没有原来的护照就不可以把中国签证，那是不是意味着我永远也回不了中国了呢？ |
Why was his visa application to China turned down?
Chinese Canadians who apply for a visitor’s visa to China are now required to produce their Chinese passport, or their expired Canadian passport with Chinese visa record, according to the website of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto.
“While the regulation became effective in our Toronto office recently (on Jan.13), it came into effect a while ago through consulate offices worldwide, including offices in Ottawa and Vancouver, New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S.” Wang, Qingquan, chief officer of the Chinese visa office in Toronto told Chinese News in an interview.
It is a new regulation that many Chinese Canadians, who plan to return to their hometowns for the Chinese New Year, are not yet aware of. The upfront holiday tradition has never lost stream among many Chinese Canadians, who have held the once-a-year family reunion throughout their immigrant life. Now that all they need to head home is a valid visa. They form a long line outside the consulate office, shivering in the cold.
Chinese Canadians have a deep emotional bond with their homeland. They miss their family and friends. They are concerned about the wellbeing of their fellow citizens. They opened their wallets to the victims of the snowstorms. They donated towards the Sichuan earthquake relief efforts.
Mr. Hu Jian told Chinese News that on Jan. 27, he was one of the visa applicants who endured long hours in the brutal winter outside the consulate office, only to find that his application was turned down as he was unable to produce the required Chinese passport.
“China does not recognize dual citizenship,” said Wang. “Under China’s citizenship policy, the consulate requires that a person who is holding both valid Chinese and Canadian passports cancel their Chinese passport at our office while applying for a visa to China.”
Wang further indicated that “many applicants are reluctant to produce their valid Chinese passport to the office.”
“Quite often, they would submit an expired passport with their application… In fact, many of them do have a valid passport that was issued in 2006 or 2007,” said Wang.
But what are the regulation’s implications for Chinese Canadians who do not posses a valid Chinese passport, or whose passport expired, or was destroyed, lost or missing long before the new regulation came into effect? Has the regulation, in effect, removed their right to go back home?
“As an early immigrant, my long-expired Chinese passport has never been used or required. So why should I keep it? There was no way whatsoever for me to produce such a passport with my application. Are they telling me that I am no longer able to visit China?” Hu asked furiously.
“The applicants are required to give their account or explanation in person on missing the required documentation for the application,” said Wang.
“The website information is just a general guideline… We will process specific applications under the circumstances… In general, the problem will be solved to the applicant’s satisfaction,” Wang added.
The visa officers have power to exercise discretion in issuing an individual visa, according to Wang.
But what factors would affect the visa office’s discretion? How much of an explanation is enough and what type of clarification is required from applicants like Hu? Mr. Wang did not want to elaborate.
Technically, it is hard to prove that something does not exist. Hu told Chinese News that his visa officer refused to accept his explanation at the time.
“I was very hurt by their (visa office) attitude towards a visa applicant, “said Hu. “I love my home country… I donated towards earthquake relief fund.”
Any concerns about the regulation or complaints against the quality of the service can be brought up in person at the consulate office on St. George Street or by calling 416-964-6838 (visa office) or 416-964-8861 (emergency line), sending fax to 416-324-9010, or by emailing at visaoffice@rogers.com, according to Wang.
