Getting through Canadian ports of entry for 2010 games a challenge if<br>unprepared: Ernst & Young

    
    Firm advises 2010 Olympics participants to be informed of border entry
    requirements
    

TORONTO, Sept. 22 /CNW/ - While Vancouver will be bursting with international talent during the 2010 Olympic Games, participants may face unexpected challenges when applying to enter the country, says Ernst & Young.

"International athletes, coaches, media crews and workers arriving in Canada will need to fulfill specific border entry requirements during the Olympic/Paralympic immigration process," cautions Bruce Sprague, a partner in Ernst & Young's Human Capital practice in Vancouver. "Participants or employers of foreign workers aren't always aware of these procedures, which can make it difficult for individuals trying to enter the country."

With just a few months to go before the next Olympic Games, a stalled visa application process can be costly to organizers. Employers struggling to meet deadlines and contractual obligations imposed by the Vancouver Organizing Committee may draw on the assistance of foreign workers to bolster their labour force. However, they should prepare for the border entry process in advance to avoid unforeseen obstacles.

"A special application process was recently implemented to ensure smoother entry into Canada," said Roxanne Israel, immigration lawyer with Egan LLP, a firm allied with Ernst & Young. "This is a new, streamlined process that offers advantages such as faster processing times, but employers will need to follow a series of specific compliance measures."

    
    Some of these measures include:

    -   Providing transportation for foreign workers to and from their home
        country
    -   Paying up front for accommodation during the designated work period
    

Ernst & Young and Egan professionals are available to explain the Canadian immigration requirements and procedures, as well as to outline what individuals entering the country should do beforehand to avoid these challenges.

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