Indian students dreaming of studying in Canada may face hardship now, as it has ended the fast track visa programme. The decision came in the backdrop of ongoing diplomatic tension between the two countries.
The decision to cancel the fast-track visa service known as Student Direct Stream (SDS) raised concerns over delays in processing and uncertainty for many international students from India. In 2023, nearly 200,000 Indian students received study permits.
The SDS was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students. It was introduced to simplify the visa application process for students from 14 countries, which included India.
In the latest measure targeting international students planning to study at a Canadian institution, Ottawa has announced that it is immediately ending the SDS initiative. According to a notice from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) late on Friday, SDS was launched in 2018 to "provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students" and "eventually opened to legal residents" of 14 nations including India.
It stated that "Canada's goal is to strengthen program integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience' to "meet this commitment" the SDS was scrapped on November eight. Study permits applied for after the announcement will be processed under the regular stream.
The Canadian government has refrained from giving an explanation for ending the fast-track visa service. The move comes at a time when India and Canada's ties are strained due to the Trudeau government blaming the Indian government agents for the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Indian aspirants are now likely to face extended waiting times for their study permits, which can be a significant setback. Indian students now have to navigate additional hurdles to secure their study permits on time.
Meanwhile, a PTI report from Ottawa, on Saturday, said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the presence of Khalistan supporters in Canada but said they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole.
His comments came during Diwali celebrations at Ottawa's Parliament Hill recently amid an ongoing diplomatic row with India over the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
"There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada, but they do not represent the Sikh Community as a whole. Similarly, there are supporters of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians," Trudeau said.
The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's killing. New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".
India expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its high commissioner Sanjay Verma and other "targeted" officials from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawa's charges.
India has been maintaining that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.
Last week, Khalistani supporters disrupted a consular event co-organised by the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton and the Indian Consulate. The incident was condemned by Trudeau who said every Canadian has the right to practise their faith freely and safely.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that New Delhi remains "deeply concerned" about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada.
The Indian consulate in Toronto said it was scrapping some of the planned consular events this month because of Canadian "security agencies conveying their inability to provide minimum security protection" to organisers.
