Visa Services Closed: Canada has temporarily suspended visa and personal consular services in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai, affecting the visa process for Canadians in India. The Canadian High Commission in Delhi will be the only place to offer these services.
Visa Services Closed: People wishing to go to Canada from India will have to face difficulties in visa related services in the coming days. Amidst the ongoing tension between India and Canada over the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case, Canada has recalled 41 of its diplomats from India. Due to this, visa services for Canada from cities like Chandigarh, Mumbai, Bengaluru have stopped, which means that now people from these cities will have to come to Delhi to go to Canada. The biggest blow among these is for Punjabis whose children or parents want to go to Canada, they will have to go to Delhi to get the visa processing done.
41 out of 62 Canadian diplomats in India removed
On Thursday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said that 41 out of 62 Canadian diplomats in India have been removed. However, 21 Canadian diplomats will remain in India. Jolly said that this decision has been taken in view of the danger of losing his diplomatic immunity. However, he clarified that Canada would not threaten Indian diplomats for doing so. Jolly said that due to staff shortages, Canada will have to suspend in-person diplomatic services in all offices except New Delhi.
Canada visa applications will take more time to process
Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Mark Miller told reporters that visa application centers will operate normally because they are run by third parties. However, he also admitted that processing the applications will now take additional time.
Amid India-Canada diplomatic tensions, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly says “As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unethically remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by October 20. This means… pic.twitter.com/tbqwk9Wv8u
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2023
“There is no doubt that India’s decision will impact the level of services to citizens in both countries. Unfortunately, we will have to suspend all in-person services at our consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru,” he said. “Canadians who require consular assistance can still visit our High Commission in Delhi and you can still do so in person, via phone and email,” he said.
