India-Canada diplomatic row: What will happen to visa services and who will be most affected?

On Monday, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma, over the alleged involvement of these officials in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was shot outside a Gurdwara in British Columbia in June 2023. In response, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement asserting that the country "reserves the right to take further steps." This escalating diplomatic rift has sparked concerns about potential repercussions for Indian visas and immigration policies, leaving many to ponder how this situation will evolve.

Who will be impacted the most after the recent India-Canada diplomatic fallout?

For countless Indians, Canada serves as a second home.

A report from the National Foundation for American Policy highlights a staggering increase in Indian immigration to Canada, soaring from 32,828 in 2013 to 139,715 in 2023¡ªa remarkable 326% jump.

Amid this ongoing diplomatic conflict, it's the Indian diaspora in Canada that faces the most significant challenges, particularly those who travel back to India to connect with their families.

How will visa services be impacted following the India-Canada diplomatic tussle?

Since last September, Canada has withdrawn over two-thirds of its diplomats and cut back on local staff at its missions, following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claim that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

CREDIT: REUTERS

In response, India had temporarily halted visa services for Canadian citizens.

As India cautiously resumed visa services in November 2023, focusing on business and medical applications, the visa process remains fraught with uncertainty due to ongoing tensions between the two nations.

Now, the recent expulsion of Indian diplomats by Canada has only intensified the situation.

CREDIT: AP

Although there haven't been official changes to immigration policies after that, Indian applicants are already experiencing delays because of the diminished number of Canadian diplomats in India.

"The reduction in diplomatic staff means longer wait times for visa processing, and this will mostly affect Indians. The current dispute will help Canada by reducing the volume of visa applications they have to handle, but it hurts individuals here in India who are looking to travel," stated Ajay Sharma, an immigration consultant and founder of Abhinav Immigration Services, as quoted by Business Standard.

Russell A. Stamets, a partner at Circle of Counsels, added, "The backlog will only get worse. But again, this delay is administrative, not a direct result of the diplomatic row."

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