India has expanded its footprint for visa services in Canada, adding three new centres within 45 days of normalizing visa issuance in the country. BLS International Services Canada Inc, the firm handling visa services outsourcing, now operates a total of twelve centres in Canada, with new facilities in Regina, Halifax, and Mississauga. These centres, functional since January 1, accept applications for passports, visas, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards, and attestations through appointments or walk-ins.
India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, highlighted the increased demand for consular services due to the growing Indo-Canadian population, reaching approximately 2.4 million. He emphasized the flexibility in the outsourcing contract, allowing for the potential addition of new centres based on stable demands for visa and consular services.
The outsourcing contract also includes premium services, such as seasonal visits to a Canadian city, as per its terms and conditions. The demand for consular services and Indian visas has seen an uptrend with a significant increase in Indian immigrants to Canada.
Visa services were normalized on November 22, following the restoration of e-visas for Canadian citizens across all categories. The latest expansion of visa services is part of the ongoing efforts to facilitate and meet the demands of the growing Indo-Canadian community. The move comes after temporary suspensions in September 2023, triggered by security concerns following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement regarding potential links between Indian agents and the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. Visa services resumed on October 26, initially covering entry, business, medical, and conference visas.
