Tension in relations between Canada and India makes visa applicants unsure
These delays are expected to affect not only tourist visas but also work permits, student visas, and spousal applications.
As tensions between Canada and India intensify, visa applicants are facing uncertainty amid the diplomatic fallout.
On Monday, concerns grew as both nations significantly reduced their diplomatic presence. India’s Ministry of External Affairs further warned it "reserves the right to take further steps" in response to what it called Canada's fabricated allegations against Indian diplomats.
Kuldeep Bansal, an immigration consultant with 20 years of experience, expects this diplomatic strain to cause immediate and significant delays in visa processing.
“If normal processing was four to six weeks, expect it to double during these high times,” Bansal advised, urging anyone planning to travel in December or January to apply as soon as possible.
These delays are expected to affect not only tourist visas but also work permits, student visas, and spousal applications.
Bansal pointed out the impact this will have on Indian couples planning weddings and students aspiring to study in Canada, especially following the recent two-year cap on international student visas.
“There is no given timeframe for processing delays in situations like this,” Bansal added.
The uncertainty follows India’s suspension of visa services for Canadian citizens for nearly eight weeks last year, which was sparked by Ottawa’s allegations of Indian involvement in the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey.
In a statement to 1130 NewsRadio, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said it is working to minimize the impact on applicants by redistributing the workload across its global network.
The IRCC noted that over 90% of India’s applications are already processed outside of India, mostly in Canada.
Staff remaining in India will focus on tasks requiring an in-country presence, such as urgent processing, visa printing, and overseeing essential partners like visa application centres and clinics conducting immigration medical exams.
Canada continues to be a top destination for Indian immigrants. Data from the National Foundation for American Policy shows Indian immigration to Canada increased by around 326% between 2013 and 2023.
