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Visa processing slowed down as 41 Canadian diplomats depart
Amid the ongoing diplomatic dispute between Canada and India, Canadian Immigration Minister Mark Miller has announced that there will be a temporary slowdown in visa processing of Indian individuals seeking entry into Canada.
The reduction is a response to India's request to reduce the number of Canadian diplomats posted in India, which Minister Miller confirmed on Thursday.
In a press release- IRCC stated
As IRCC notes, the reduction in Canadian diplomatic presence in India may result in delays in various services, including visa processing and passport issuance, for Indian citizens. However, he has assured that essential functions will be managed by staff in Canada.
Most of India's applications are already being processed outside the country, with 89% of Indian applications being handled through the global network. The 5 IRCC staff members based in India will focus on tasks that require an on-site presence, such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment, and the oversight of key partners, as highlighted in the statement.
Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly disclosed on Thursday that 41 out of Canada's 62 diplomats in India, along with their dependents, have been withdrawn. Minister Joly also mentioned that exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain in India.
She further emphasized that India's decision will have an impact on the level of services provided to citizens of both countries, causing Canada to temporarily suspend in-person services in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bangalore.
This diplomatic clash between the two nations stems from a September 18 declaration by Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, accusing India of involvement in the murder of a prominent Sikh activist in Canada, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Canada alleges that India had a role in the killing of Nijjar in suburban Vancouver, while India vehemently denies any involvement, instead accusing Canada of harboring separatists and taking diplomatic action in protest against these allegations.
Indian immigration impact in Canada
India is the primary source of new arrivals to Canada. In 2022, a staggering 118,000 people from India took up permanent residence in Canada, accounting for 27% of the 437,000 new permanent residents welcomed by Canada. Furthermore, Canada extended its warm welcome to more than 226,000 Indian international students in the same year, making up 41% of the 551,000 international students admitted into the country. Notably, around 60,000 Indians proudly acquire Canadian citizenship in 2022.
Canada boasts a diverse range of over 100 distinct immigration routes that fall under the economic category. Due to their proficiency in the English language, extensive education, work experience and skill set, Indians have a strong advantage within the Canadian immigration framework. A large number of Indians choose to pursue their studies in Canada before considering looking for permanent residence. Among these choices, the Student Direct Stream (SDS), a swift-track study permit route, is immensely popular among Indians. Data from IRCC reveals that over 95% of SDS applications originate from India.
