In the midst of the ongoing India-Canada standoff, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a slowdown in Indian visa applications. This decision follows Canada’s move to remove 41 diplomats from India, as India intends to unilaterally remove immunities for most Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi. IRCC stated that reduced staffing levels are anticipated to impact processing times, leading to delays in responses to enquiries, visa issuance, and passport returns for Indian citizens.
While IRCC will continue to accept and process applications from India, the decrease in diplomatic staff levels is expected to cause these delays. The statement also assured that Canada-based IRCC staff remaining in India will handle essential in-country tasks, including urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment, and overseeing key partners. The move aims to safeguard the personal safety of diplomats, as diplomatic immunities play a crucial role in diplomatic relations worldwide.
This development comes after Canada’s decision to remove its diplomats due to India’s call for “parity” in diplomatic presence. Canada’s claim that the Indian government was involved in the fatal shooting of a designated terrorist in Canada had previously sparked tensions between the two nations.
