New Delhi has expressed its worries to Ottawa about the difficulties that over 33,000 Indian students are encountering in their attempts to arrive in Canada in time for the start of the new semester at institutions.
India’s external affairs ministry expressed its concerns to the Canadian high commission in New Delhi, while its Indian equivalent in Ottawa discussed the issue with Global Affairs Canada, Canada’s foreign ministry.
The final decision on the matter is solely in the hands of Canadian authorities. While Canadian embassies in India have given Indian students precedence and scheduled appointments for them, the process looks to be taking longer than expected, maybe until September. It entails providing biometric information as well as undergoing a required medical check.
Universities formerly permitted overseas students to attend classes online depending on approval-in-principle of their study permits owing to COVID-19 lockdowns in Canada.
As the situation in Canada normalizes as a result of a drop in coronavirus infections, educational institutions are no longer allowing delays and recommending students to seek deferrals.
India has requested that Canada give more appointments in July and August to remove the study permit backlog, as well as those institutions, extend their deadlines or consider the delay in receiving such papers due to circumstances beyond the students’ control.
India has also connected this to the difficulty students are having travelling to Canada give more appointments in July and August to remove the study permit backlog, as well as that institution, extend their deadlines or consider the delay in receiving such papers due to circumstances beyond the students’ control.
India has also connected this to the difficulty students are having travelling to Canada owing to the lack of direct flights, which Ottawa has prohibited since April 22 due to concerns about the Delta virus strain.
Due to a lack of direct connections, students have been forced to travel through other countries and must obtain a negative COVID test result from their final point of departure before being permitted to board the flight to Canada.
The concerns have been formally expressed, according to India’s high commissioner to Ottawa, Ajay Bisaria, who told HT, “ We have forcefully taken up matters pertaining to students with the Canadian government as well as institutions to enable their migration from India to Canada.”
Read about the travel ban that Canada imposed for Indian travellers by clicking the link below:
Add comment