Canada and India Address Visa Processing Concerns Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Canada’s top immigration body, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has addressed concerns regarding Indian visa processing, which was anticipated to be impacted by the recent withdrawal of diplomats.

Acknowledging the Challenge

Senior officials at IRCC have acknowledged that the reduction of staff in India may result in a backlog of 17,500 ‘final decisions’ within the global immigration system over the next two months.

However, the Canadian government aims to restore normal processing by ‘early 2024,’ according to reports from CIC News, citing officials. This recovery is expected as the immigration staff, who were relocated from India, gradually reestablished themselves and resumed their duties in Canada and the Philippines.

Hints of Progress

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hinted that visa services, which were temporarily suspended following a diplomatic dispute between India and Canada, could potentially restart “very, very soon” as the security situation improves. He noted that India had suspended visa issuance in Canada because it was no longer safe for Indian diplomats to conduct visa-related work.

Both Countries Update Travel Advisories

In response to the ongoing diplomatic standoff between India and Canada, Canada temporarily suspended visa and in-person consular services in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Mumbai. These services will now be available exclusively at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi. In response, India had suspended visa processing in Canada about a month prior.

Canada has updated its travel advisory for India to reflect the ongoing developments, cautioning its citizens about potential protests and negative sentiment toward Canada.

The advisory advises Canadians to maintain a low profile in Delhi and the National Capital Region, avoid crowded areas, travel with someone, and inform someone of their travel plans.

Must Read: Canada Visa Processing in India: FAQs, Advice, and Tips to Avoid Delays

Impact on Visa Processing

IRCC reduced its workforce in India from 27 to just 5 employees. These five Canada-based IRCC staff members will focus on tasks that require a physical presence in India, such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment, and overseeing key partners.

The reduced staffing levels are expected to impact processing times, leading to potential delays in processing, responses to inquiries, and visa and passport issuance for Indian citizens.

Conclusion

The ongoing tensions between India and Canada are expected to affect service delivery to citizens in both countries. It is important for travellers to be aware of the latest developments and to check the travel advisories issued by their respective governments before making any travel plans.