Why has Canada reduced tourist stay permits months before ending 10-year visas?

What was the tourist visa success rate to Canada from India particularly from Punjab?

Despite strained Indo-Canada relations over the past year, the first half of 2024 seemed promising for Indian tourist visa applicants. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 365,750 visitor visas to Indians between January and July—a notable increase from the 345,631 issued during the same period in 2023.

However, this upward trend came to a sharp halt in July- August when the success rate for Indian tourist visa applications dropped significantly.

Stricter criteria have left even high-profile applicants—including well-paid professionals, government officials, and families with substantial assets—facing rejections for financial reasons, despite having strong financial support systems in India. “A couple working in a bank wanted to visit their permanent resident (PR) son in Canada, but they were rejected on financial grounds, despite having high salaries and valuable property in India,” said Gurpreet Singh, an expert in Canadian immigration.

Singh added that the selection criteria for tourist visas have become increasingly unpredictable, with even former U.S. green card holders being rejected. He noted that the success rate has dropped drastically from 80 per cent in early 2024 to less than 20% now, with applicants experiencing rejections even after waiting up to four months. “The reasons for rejections are often vague, with strong profiles suddenly deemed insufficient,” Singh explained.

He said that earlier 8 out of 10 applicants from Punjab were getting this visa but now he had lodged the file of 25 persons for tourist visa four months back and now the results of 10 came and only the one person got the visa out of 10.

Would the recent end of the 10-year multiple-entry visa policy impact tourist sisa success rates further?

Experts believe the end of Canada’s automatic 10-year multiple-entry tourist visa will undoubtedly impact approval rates. Previously, this visa option was a popular choice among Indian applicants, particularly for those with strong financial backgrounds, solid travel histories, and family ties in Canada. These visas were issued more readily under a relatively straightforward process.

Now, the issuance of such visas is left to the discretion of immigration officers, making approvals far more selective. Frequent travelers, who once relied on the convenience of a 10-year visa, will now have to reapply for a tourist visa each time they wish to visit Canada. This shift is likely to further complicate the process for many.

The sudden decline in approval rates has already placed Indian students and professionals in a challenging position. Earlier this year, the 10-year visa was often seen as an alternative for those unable to secure student visas or other long-term permits. With its discontinuation and the plummeting success rates for tourist visas, these individuals now face limited and less predictable entry options.

What are the factors behind the decline in tourist visa success rates in recent months?

Experts noticed several factors contributing to the sharp decline in tourist visa success rates for Indian applicants.
Allegations of Border Misuse: There has been a rise in cases where visitors, particularly from India, reportedly use Canada as a transit point to cross into the United States. Canada’s visitor visas were perceived as easier to obtain, making them a stepping stone for illegal border crossings. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), over 5,000 Indians crossed from Canada into the U.S. on foot without proper documentation in June 2024 alone. As both countries shares 1000s of kilometres open border. These incidents have led Canada to adopt a more cautious approach to granting long-term tourist visas, particularly to applicants from high-volume countries like India.

Policy on Reducing Temporary Residents:

Canada has been tightening its policies to limit the number of temporary residents. Concerns have emerged that many visitors with 10-year visas overstay or work illegally, prompting immigration authorities to apply stricter scrutiny to new applicants.

Processing Delays and Backlogs: Delays in visa processing and a growing backlog due to a large number of visa applications have also played a role. As the processing times increase, immigration officials appear to be applying more stringent criteria, leading to slower approvals and a higher rejection rate for those waiting months for decisions.

Strained Diplomatic Relations with India:

Political tensions between India and Canada, especially after allegations involving India in a high-profile assassination case in Canada, have impacted various areas of bilateral relations. While not officially linked to immigration policies, experts believe these tensions may be influencing Canada’s cautious approach toward issuing long-term visas to Indian applicants.

These combined factors have created an environment where tourist visa applications are being rejected at unprecedented rates, leaving even strong candidates struggling to secure approvals, said experts.