World
Canada has drastically reduced the number of tourist visas granted to Indian applicants. Previously, around 80% of Indian applicants were granted Canadian tourist visas, but the success rate has now dropped below 20%. Applications from Punjab, in particular, are facing high rejection rates. This trend has been evident over the past few months.
Canada has also stopped issuing 10-year automatic multiple-entry tourist visas to eligible applicants, a move implemented months ago, creating significant barriers for travelers. These developments highlight the tightening of Canada’s immigration policies.
Despite growing tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa, Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 365,750 tourist visas to Indians in the first half of 2024 (January to July), 20,119 more than during the same period last year. However, this trend reversed in July-August, with a sharp decline in the visa success rate for Indian applicants.
Rejections on Financial Grounds
Even high-profile applicants, including affluent families, professionals with high salaries, and government officials, are now facing rejections on financial grounds. Gurpreet Singh, a Canadian immigration expert, shared an example of a wealthy Indian couple with substantial assets and high-paying jobs in India whose visa application to visit their son, a permanent resident in Canada, was rejected due to financial concerns.
These stricter regulations indicate a significant shift in Canada’s immigration policies, particularly impacting Indian travelers.
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