Canada’s Mass Visa Cancellation Plan Could Hit Large Number of Indian Applicants: Report

Canada Reportedly Plans Mass Visa Cancellations, Raising Concerns for Indian Applicants.

Canadian authorities are reportedly seeking new powers to cancel groups of visas — a move that could significantly affect applicants from India and Bangladesh, according to a CBC News report citing internal government documents.

MOVE TO CANCEL VISAS OVER FRAUD CONCERNS
The report said Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and US counterparts have formed a working group to identify and cancel fraudulent visitor visa applications. The effort reportedly focuses on India and Bangladesh due to “country-specific challenges.”

The proposal, presented to the immigration minister’s office, seeks powers that would allow mass visa refusals or cancellations in certain scenarios — such as a pandemic, war, or issues linked to applicants from specific countries.

While Immigration Minister Lena Diab has publicly acknowledged the need for such powers during crises like pandemics or conflicts, she has not mentioned any country-specific application of the rule.

A bill to grant these powers has already been tabled in the Canadian Parliament, and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is reportedly pushing for its swift passage.

ACTIVISTS WARN OF ‘MASS DEPORTATION MACHINE’
The proposal has drawn criticism from over 300 civil society groups, who warned that the legislation could enable “mass deportations” and increase the risk of arbitrary visa cancellations. Immigration lawyers told CBC that the government may also be using the measure to manage its growing backlog of applications.

INDIAN APPLICANTS UNDER GREATER SCRUTINY
Internal documents reportedly show that asylum claims from Indian nationals jumped from under 500 a month in May 2023 to around 2,000 by July 2024. Officials said this rise has slowed processing times and increased verification requirements for temporary resident visa applications from India.

Processing times reportedly rose from 30 days in July 2023 to 54 days a year later, while visa approvals dropped from more than 63,000 in January 2024 to about 48,000 by June. Officials also noted an uptick in Indian passengers stopped from boarding flights, with 1,873 applicants referred for further checks or sent procedural fairness letters by July 31.

IMPACT ON STUDENTS AND RELATIONS
India remains Canada’s largest source of international students, but rejection rates have surged. In August 2024 alone, about 74% of Indian study permit applications — nearly three out of four — were rejected. The reported visa cancellation initiative comes amid already strained ties between New Delhi and Ottawa and could further affect travel and education links between the two countries.