No ban on study visa, but Indian students eyeing Canada in a fix

The diplomatic situation between India and Canada took a downturn after the latter expelled a high-ranking Indian diplomat earlier this week after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested Indian government’s potential link in the death of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

Surat-based businessman Yunus Shaikh’s daughter is supposed to fly to Canada on a study visa on October 2. “Our visa consultancy firm says there is nothing to worry. But the news on television and what we see on social media is quite worrisome. We have spent around Rs 20 lakh on college fees, accommodation facilities and other expenses for my daughter. We are praying that the situation between the two countries becomes normal in the next few days,” he said.

Ahmedabad resident Nirmal Raval’s 21-year-old son Armaan was set to join an university in Ottawa to study supply chain management. However, the family has now put their plans on hold. Raval, a lawyer, said, “We never know what is the situation there currently,” he said.

A graduate from Ahmedabad, Harsh Patel received a confirmation letter from an university in Ottawa and has to deposit the course fee of Rs 12 lakh before October 6. “My admission for the two-year financial services programme will be cancelled if I do not deposit the fee before October 6,” Harsh said.

His father, Vishnubhai, an employee in a private firm, added: “What if visa service is stopped for Indians after we pay the fee? How will I repay the loan I have taken for his studies? Since we do not have any friends or relatives in Ottawa, we do not have access to any authentic information.”

Vinay Kumar, the head of a reputed visa consultancy firm in Surat, said, “Fake news is doing the rounds. We are receiving calls from many students and their parents asking if they can still opt for Canada for higher studies. The students who have flights next month are asking whether they will be able to fly to Canada. All we can say is that there is nothing to worry. Those students who have already got visas can fly as per their schedule. There will also be no problem for students who have applied or are applying for student visas. The Canadian government has not cancelled visas that have already been given to Indian students.”

Applicants from Punjab, however, have reason to cheer. While there is still uncertainty around a lot of applications, some residents have received their visa recently without any hassle.

Jalandhar resident Akashdeep (name changed) expressed relief on receiving his visa. “I had submitted my application on September 4 and received my visa on Friday. I was very worried, but my consultant had assured me that I will get it,” he said, adding that one of his friends also got his visa.

Kulwinder Singh, a student from Ludhiana, also confirmed that he received his visa on the same day.

Another student from Jalandhar, who had faced two previous visa rejections, said, “I submitted my application on August 29 through a Jalandhar-based immigration agency, and I received it on Friday.”

Tirath Singh of Pinnacle Education and Immigration said that the trend is favorable for students. “I would like to encourage both parents and students to focus on their studies and not worry about anything else. We have been receiving visas, and four were issued on Friday, including one for a student with a score of five and a half bands. While we should keep an eye on the situation, there is currently no reason for concern regarding student visas,” he said, adding that even during the pandemic, there was a delay in visa processing, so students should be patient and motivated.

Tirath added that six students, who had earlier faced 16 refusals, have also got their visas in the past two days. Even students who had taken the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) were receiving visas. One student, with a 43% score in class x and 75% in Class 12, and a PTE score of 60, received his visa on Thursday. Another student, who completed class 12 in 2016, took a course, and achieved a PTE score of 60, also received a visa.
Gurpreet Singh of i-Can Consultancy in Kapurthala said that consultants across the state were sharing success stories in social media groups. “One of my students went to Canada only on Thursday,” he said.

Every year, approximately 2.26 lakh students from India pursue education in Canada, and this number continues to grow. In the first six months of 2023, around 1.75 lakh students have already received visas, according to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data.

Sanjay Chawda, an educational consultant based in Vadodara, added that by January, during the next admission cycle for Canadian universities, both the countries would have sorted their differences.

“Usually in the third week of September, students opting to study in Canada receive their visas for the fall session. A very small number of students apply for colleges in Canada in October and November. The next big intake happens in January, which I feel might get affected. But by then both the countries should have sorted out their differences,” he said.