India’s decision to suspend visa issuance for nationals of Canada will not affect the current visa holders, according to Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL).
Recently, authorities in India announced the suspension of visa services for Canadians; however, the applications for fresh Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards are not affected, VisaGuide.World reports.
In response to escalating tensions between both territories, the new changes on visas were announced by Indian authorities. However, BLS International also announced that Canadians in India are eligible to apply in order to renew their visas according to the rules governing their visa categories.
India’s decision came as a response to Canada’s previous accusations of potential involvement in the assassination of Sikh activists and naturalized Canadian citizens.
As a result, the government of India issued a travel warning to its citizens in Canada, while the latter pulled some staff from its Indian consulates following the threats.
“While processing of Canadian visas continues in India at this time, delays should be expected. BAL will continue to monitor the diplomatic dispute and provide updates as information becomes available,” BAL Group said.
Previously, the service provider for the government as well as diplomatic missions worldwide, BLS International, sent a letter to Indian stock exchanges noting that visa services have been temporarily suspended until further notice.
“Due to operation reasons, with immediate effect, i.e., September 21, 2023, Indian visa services in Canada have been suspended till further notice,” the letter noted, according to a CNN report.
Recently, the relations between Canada and India have deteriorated after the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau’s allegation that the Indian government assassinated a Sikh independence activist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, on Canadian soil.
Still, New Delhi authorities denied such allegations. Besides, they called such comments motivated.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said that security threats to which the Indian High Commission, as well as consulates in Canada, were subject led to the temporary measure of halting visa issuance across all categories.
The issue is of incitement of violence, the inaction by the Canadian authorities, the creation of an environment that disrupts the functioning of our high commission and consulates, that’s what’s making us stop temporarily the issuance of visas or providing visa services,” the Ministry of External Affairs of India’s spokesman, Arindam Bagchi, noted.
Furthermore, he stressed that the Ministry always believed that it was the host government’s responsibility to provide security.