“Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is working hard to continue mitigating any impact on applicants from or in India by continuing to share the workload across our global processing network,” Isabelle Dubois, spokesperson, IRCC, exclusively told The PIE News.
“Indian nationals and residents can continue to apply to study in Canada, and Canadian designated learning institutions continue to welcome students from India. All applications from around the world are assessed on a case-by-case basis by highly-trained immigration officers and equally against the same criteria.”
Both India and Canada have expelled their top envoys, along with other diplomats, over accusations that Indian agents were involved in the killing of a prominent Canadian-Sikh activist, Harjinder Singh Nijjar.
The Canadian police has further alleged India’s involvement in “homicides, extortion and violent acts” against supporters of the pro-Khalistan movement, which seeks a separate nation for Sikhs in India.
Canada, which is home to one of the largest Indian-origin diasporas in the world, has over 400,000 Indian students, according to the latest data of students studying abroad shared by the Ministry of External Affairs.
With international students contributing nearly $31 billion to the Canadian economy in 2022, Indian students – the country’s largest international student cohort – make up a considerable chunk of the revenue generators.
However, the recent diplomatic tensions have worried Indian students, stakeholders, and Canadian institutions, who are already seeing a declining interest in the North American country.
Moreover, apprehensions about visa and study permit processing have been raised as Canada’s High Commission in India sees more officials relieved from their duties.
IRCC has allayed concerns around such fears, maintaining that most of the applications from India are processed in Canada.
“The large majority of applications received from those in India are processed outside of India, with well over 90% of India’s applications processed in Canada,” said Dubois.
Though there has been a 50% dip in study permits approved from India in H1 2024 compared to H1 2023, Indian students remain Canada’s largest international student cohort.
The large majority of applications received from those in India are processed outside of India, with well over 90% of India’s applications processed in Canada
Isabelle Dubois, IRCC
According to data shared by IRCC through its Open Data Portal, 88,200 study permit applications were processed from India between January and July 2024.
Multiple reports have suggested that certain gangsters and extremist individuals from India have entered Canada on study visas.
Moreover, it emerged that at least two of the four persons arrested in relation to the killing of Nijjar had entered Canada on study permits.
The Indian government maintains that it has shared 26 extradition requests with Canada and also security information on gangs, but no action has been taken.
There have also been discussions about temporary residents, including international students, requiring police clearance certificates, but Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller has refuted this.
“IRCC continues to work closely with the Canada Border Services Agency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service as well as our closest international partners to carry out comprehensive security screening to help mitigate potential security and criminality risks with those seeking to enter Canada, including the sharing of security risk information as it relates to immigration,” said Dubois.