Student visas for Canada may get delayed by 6 months, ed consultants say

Moneycontrol reported earlier that many students in India are looking at options such as the US or Europe, especially after threats were made against Indians by a Khalistani leader. (Illustration by Suneesh Kalarickal)

Students in India preparing to study in Canada now face visa delays after the North American country reduced its diplomatic presence in the country last week, education consultants said. The processing of Canadian student visa applications may be burdened with substantial delays, possibly stretching up to six months, they said.

Canada pulled out 41 diplomats from India before an October 20 deadline set by New Delhi to reduce its diplomatic strength in the South Asian country. Visa and consular services in the Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru consulates have been halted and they will be available only at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi.

Ties between India have been sliding after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau linked Indian agents to the murder of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June. India has rejected the allegations.

“With recent developments shaping up, we can foresee that Canada visa timelines will go back to more than six months again,” said Ankur Dhawan, president of UpGrad Abroad, referring to prolonged visa application processing times during the pandemic.

UpGrad Abroad has been receiving queries from students about whether they will be able to start their planned university sessions in January and May.

ReachIvy, another educational consultant, forecast a delay of six to eight months for visa processing. Vibha Kagzi, founder of ReachIvy.com, said students are worried that colleges will withdraw applicants from India and all their preparations will be in vain.

“Parents, on the other hand, are concerned if the money spent on preparation like visas, hostel, etc., will be refunded if things don't turn out positively,” Kagzi said.

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However, Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said 89 percent of India’s applications have been processed through the global network.

“The five Canada-based IRCC staff who remain in India will focus on work that requires an in-country presence such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment and overseeing key partners,” it said in a statement, adding that applicants can expect delays on the “overall processing times, responses to their enquiries and getting their visas or passports returned.”

Canada hosts over 220,000 Indian students, who make up 41 percent of its total international intake.

Suggestions for students

Despite the diplomatic ripples, Canada’s visa procedures continue to adhere to established guidelines, consultants said. This assurance should offer comfort to Indian students, who, though they may encounter delays, can confidently proceed with their regular application processes in pursuit of their educational dreams, they said.

“Remaining well-informed and patient is advisable as we anticipate the possibility of service redirection and alternative arrangements. It's essential to closely monitor official announcements from the Canadian government and immigration authorities,” said Amit Singh, founder of UniScholars.

Moneycontrol reported earlier that many students in India are looking at options such as the US or Europe, especially after threats were made against Indians by a Khalistani leader.

To be sure, switching overseas study destinations is easier said than done and involves reassessments of aspects such as tuition fees, accommodation charges, and daily expenses.

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