Canada Introducing Mass Visa Cancellation Plan Targeting Indians

Mass Visa Cancellation Plan in Canada

A new proposal for mass visa cancellation has been submitted to the Canadian parliament. According to a report by CBC News, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have teamed up with US organisations to cancel visas on a large scale. These mass cancellations are generally executed during crises such as pandemics, wars, or public emergencies. However, the report suggested that there was give specific attention to countries such as India and Bangladesh. This also suggested that the mass visa cancellation can be for ‘country-specific visa holders’.

Around 300 civil society organizations in Canada have raised concerns regarding the new policy. Cancelling visas on a large scale based on specific groups is creating a ‘mass deportation machine’. However, Canadian immigration lawyers suggested that this move will help the country reduce the backlog in the visa system.

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Why Canada is Planning Mass Visa Cancellation?

If the proposal is passed by the Canadian parliament, then this new policy in Canada will create a major impact on Indian students planning to study in Canada. However, there are a few reasons why the proposal for mass visa cancellation was made in Canada. Some of the reasons include:

• This will help manage the increasing issues of visa fraud, fake documentation, and the misuse of asylum from certain areas.

• The IRCC will be able to handle the increasing number of applications while keeping immigration processes secure.

• Mass visa cancellation will serve towards national security and improve the efficiency of the system.

• As the Canada student visa processing time for approving visa applications increased over the years from 30 days to 54 days, this new policy will help reduce the processing time.

How Will Indians be Impacted by the Mass Visa Cancellation in Canada?

Indian students will be highly impacted by the mass visa cancellation plan in Canada if approved. As Indian students make up one of the largest international student communities, recent data shows a decline in numbers.

• Asylum claims from India reportedly jumped from under 500 per month in 2023 to nearly 2,000 per month in 2024.

• The processing time for Indian temporary resident visas increased from 30 days to 54 days within a year.

• Approval rates for Indian student visas dropped from 63,000 in January 2024 to around 48,000 in June 2024.

The following are some of the ways the mass visa cancellation could impact aspiring Indian students.

• Higher rejection risk: Increased restrictions on approving visas for international students, especially based on nationality, might lead to an increased rejection rate for Indian nationals.

• Increased uncertainty: An international student who is enrolled in a Canadian institution might face uncertainty or delays due to mass visa cancellations. Moreover, aspirin students will also start reconsidering their application for a Canadian student visa due to visa cancellations.

• Shift to alternate study destinations: Due to an increase in mass visa cancellations in Canada, many Indian students might start looking at countries that offer flexible visa policies, such as Germany, Australia, the UK, Ireland etc.

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