A diplomatic dispute between Canada and India has strained their relationship. The dispute arose between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the assassination of a prominent Canadian-Sikh leader in British Columbia. Trudeau claims that there is reliable intelligence indicating the involvement of Indian government agents in the killing, while Modi denies this.
India’s visa processing centers in Canada, including those in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver, suspended services on September 21 due to operational reasons.
Earlier this week in New York, when asked downright if Canada would reciprocate, Trudeau said his priority was to preserve the rules in Canada. He said that Canada would work hard to keep Canadians safe.
There is no sign that Canada will stop processing visas for Indians, and Canada is still accepting new applications as it usually does. The processing time for Indians looking to come to Canada is the same as it used to be. Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) strives to process all 80% of applications within service standards, regardless of nationality.
Safe country: Canada
India has closed its visa processing centers in Canada and issued a travel advisory for Indian travelers to Canada due to safety concerns.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller, while speaking with the Canadian Press, advised Indians concerned regarding safety to remain calm. Despite the serious allegations regarding Canada’s safety, it is crucial to remain calm. It is a prominent fact that Canada is a safe country. “Canada is one of the most recognized countries in the world for safety. Based on the most recent Global Peace Index, Canada arrived in 11th place for 2023.
Additionally, a report by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) 2022 found that Canada is the first choice of international students because of its safe and tolerant reputation.
The CBIE discovered that 40% of international students in Canada in 2022 were from India, despite a warning from the Indian government in September of that year.
Based on a report by IRCC, there were 800,000 international students in Canada in 2022. Approximately 320,000 were Indians studying in Canada during the previous academic year.
Indians in Canada
India is one of the biggest sources of immigration in Canada. Canada welcomed 118,095 Indian immigrants in 2022, with 59,503 becoming citizens after gaining permanent residence.
Canada’s 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan sets high goals for immigration. The aim is to welcome over 500,000 permanent residents annually by the end of 2025. The upcoming plan is expected to be released by November 1 of this year, and Minister Miller has stated that he does not foresee a decrease in the targets.
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