Commencing on Thursday, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, along with its consulates in Vancouver and Toronto, will recommence offering services for entry, business, medical, and conference visas. This decision was communicated through a media statement released by the High Commission, which also emphasized that future decisions would depend on the ongoing assessment of the situation.
This development follows India’s suspension of visa services on September 21 due to alleged ‘security threats’ against diplomatic personnel. These concerns arose after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously suggested Indian involvement in the killing of a Canadian Sikh in Vancouver in June. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistan activist, was implicated in terrorism-related activities in India.
India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, recently mentioned that the government was reevaluating the ‘security situation’ surrounding its missions in Canada. He indicated that the resumption of visa services could occur ‘very soon’ if substantial progress is made in ensuring the safety of diplomats.
The media statement from the High Commission specified the categories for which visa services would resume starting October 26, 2023. This development comes as a relief to Canadian citizens of Indian origin who were unable to travel to India over the past month without an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.
This announcement follows Canada’s decision to withdraw 41 diplomats from India and suspend in-person services at three consulates, which was prompted by New Delhi’s request for ‘parity’ in diplomatic staff. As a result, visa processing times for Indian applicants in Canada are expected to increase, with a backlog of approximately 17,500 applications anticipated in early 2024.
Notably, India’s actions and Canada’s response have drawn international attention, with the US, UK, and New Zealand expressing concerns regarding diplomatic protocol violations and advocating for diplomacy to resolve the situation. Canada’s participation in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, along with the US, UK, New Zealand, and Australia, has further intensified the focus on this diplomatic dispute.
In summary, the resumption of visa services by Indian missions in Canada is a significant development in a diplomatic standoff that has garnered international attention and highlighted the importance of diplomatic conventions and cooperation among nations.
