The High Commission of India in Ottawa has issued an advisory for Indian students enrolled in Canadian universities and colleges whose visa applications have been delayed.
The Commission said in advisory that it has received several petitions regarding Indian students who have been admitted to Canadian educational institutions/universities but are unable to join the academic courses due to delays in processing of their visas and student permits.
In recent years, Canada has emerged as a preferred destination for Indian students for post secondary education. Currently, 230,000 students from India enrolled in post secondary institutions in Canada are making positive contribution to Canadian economy including through an estimated 4 billion dollars in tuition fees.
High Commission said that the processing of visas is a sovereign power of Government of Canada.
“The High Commission of India in Ottawa and Consulates in Toronto and Vancouver continue to be engaged with relevant Canadian interlocutors including Canadian academic institutions and universities regarding problems faced by Indian students due to delay in issue of visas. Highlighting these issues and the fact that Indian students have already deposited tuition fees with the Canadian institutions we requested the Canadian authorities to expedite processing of visa applications for students from India.”
The Canadian institutions/universities have advised High Commission of India that they have approached Canadian Immigration ministry to convey their concerns over delayed study permits.
The universities according to the High commission are also communicating with incoming students and providing them with timely information about all issues related to study permit application process.
The universities have also ensured that they have in place contingency plans, in order to support those incoming students from India who do not receive their study permit in time to be present on campus when term begins in September.
Some institutions will provide remote options for students unable to reach Canada at the start of the term because they have not yet received visa. Students can contact the university/institutions to find out which courses have remote options.
Affected students are also encourages to send a request for information and urgent processing through an IRCC web form meant for study permit applications that have been submitted and complete but have exceeded the current processing time for student direct Stream (SDS) scheme.
The High Commission of India is advising Indian students so affected to contact the concerned Canadian institution/university and work with them to find best available option.