Canada is currently processing visas for Indian nationals despite a recent diplomatic dispute between the two countries. The disagreement stems from the killing of a prominent Canadian-Sikh leader in British Columbia, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserting that there is credible intelligence suggesting the involvement of Indian government agents in the assassination, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi denies these allegations.
In response to this dispute, on Thursday, September 21, BLS, India’s visa processing centers in Canada, suspended their services citing operational reasons. These centers, located in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver, are temporarily closed.
Despite this suspension, Canada has not indicated that it will stop processing visas for Indian nationals, and it continues to accept new visa applications as usual. Processing times for visas for Indian nationals looking to come to Canada are expected to remain consistent, with the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aiming to process 80% of applications within established service standards, regardless of nationality.
India has also issued a travel advisory for its citizens traveling to Canada, citing safety concerns. However, Canadian officials have emphasized that Canada consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world. According to the most recent Global Peace Index, Canada ranked 11th in 2023 for safety. A 2022 report by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) highlighted Canada’s reputation for safety and tolerance, making it a top choice for international students.
Despite previous warnings from the Indian government, the CBIE reported that in 2022, 40% of international students in Canada were of Indian origin, with a total of approximately 320,000 Indian students studying in Canada during the last academic year.
India remains the largest source country for immigration to Canada, with 118,095 Indians gaining permanent residence in Canada in 2022. This includes 59,503 individuals who transitioned from permanent residents to Canadian citizens.
Canada has set ambitious immigration targets in its 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan, aiming to admit more than 500,000 permanent residents annually by the end of 2025. Minister Marc Miller has stated that he does not anticipate these targets will be lowered in the upcoming Plan, expected by November 1 of this year.
