IRCC “working exhausting” to assist Indian college students as diplomatic row rumbles on

“Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is working exhausting to proceed mitigating any impression on candidates from or in India by persevering with to share the workload throughout our world processing community,” Isabelle Dubois, spokesperson, IRCC, completely advised The PIE Information. 

“Indian nationals and residents can proceed to use to check in Canada, and Canadian designated studying establishments proceed to welcome college students from India. All purposes from around the globe are assessed on a case-by-case foundation by highly-trained immigration officers and equally in opposition to the identical standards.”

Each India and Canada have expelled their high envoys, together with different diplomats, over accusations that Indian brokers have been concerned within the killing of a outstanding Canadian-Sikh activist, Harjinder Singh Nijjar. 

The Canadian police has additional alleged India’s involvement in “homicides, extortion and violent acts” in opposition to supporters of the pro-Khalistan motion, which seeks a separate nation for Sikhs in India.

Canada, which is dwelling to one of many largest Indian-origin diasporas on this planet, has over 400,000 Indian college students, in line with the most recent knowledge of scholars finding out overseas shared by the Ministry of Exterior Affairs. 

With worldwide college students contributing practically $31 billion to the Canadian financial system in 2022, Indian college students – the nation’s largest worldwide pupil cohort – make up a substantial chunk of the income turbines. 

Nevertheless, the current diplomatic tensions have anxious Indian college students, stakeholders, and Canadian establishments, who’re already seeing a declining curiosity within the North American nation. 

Furthermore, apprehensions about visa and research allow processing have been raised as Canada’s Excessive Fee in India sees extra officers relieved from their duties. 

IRCC has allayed issues round such fears, sustaining that a lot of the purposes from India are processed in Canada. 

“The big majority of purposes obtained from these in India are processed outdoors of India, with effectively over 90% of India’s purposes processed in Canada,” mentioned Dubois. 

Although there was a 50% dip in research permits accepted from India in H1 2024 in comparison with H1 2023, Indian college students stay Canada’s largest worldwide pupil cohort. 

The big majority of purposes obtained from these in India are processed outdoors of India, with effectively over 90% of India’s purposes processed in Canada
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Based on knowledge shared by IRCC by means of its Open Knowledge Portal, 88,200 research allow purposes have been processed from India between January and July 2024. 

A number of experiences have steered that sure gangsters and extremist people from India have entered Canada on research visas. 

Furthermore, it emerged that not less than two of the 4 individuals arrested in relation to the killing of Nijjar had entered Canada on research permits.

The Indian authorities maintains that it has shared 26 extradition requests with Canada and likewise safety data on gangs, however no motion has been taken. 

There have additionally been discussions about non permanent residents, together with worldwide college students, requiring police clearance certificates, however Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller has refuted this.

“IRCC continues to work carefully with the Canada Border Companies Company, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Safety Intelligence Service in addition to our closest worldwide companions to hold out complete safety screening to assist mitigate potential safety and criminality dangers with these searching for to enter Canada, together with the sharing of safety danger data because it pertains to immigration,” mentioned Dubois.