CHANDIGARH: The diplomatic row between Ottawa and New Delhi has had a direct impact on Indian students preparing to enrol in Canadian universities for the winter session starting in January.
Those applying for permanent residency (PR) are now likely to face delays in visa processing with the withdrawal of Canadian consular services from Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Every year, at least 1.5 lakh students from Punjab go to Canada, Australia, the UK and other countries. Of these, nearly 70% go to Canada. Of the remaining 30%, about 20,000 Indians, mostly from Punjab, go to the UK and about 35,000 to Australia every year to study.
Each student pays between Rs 15 and Rs 22 lakh per year. An estimated Rs 30,000 crore leaves Punjab every year on account of student education, sources said.
Education consultants, who facilitate student visas, say that with the withdrawal of Canadian visa and consular services, their third-party agencies, which stamp passports in various cities, may take at least two months to process the visas. The process will now be handled by the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi.
Shamsher Singh Sandhu, managing director of Canadian Migration Lawyers, said the Canadian authorities were raising petty objections on files related to permanent residence cases. Students, tourists and work permit holders are being questioned at airports by authorities and airline staff in India and Canada. Refusals have increased in all categories.
