Suspension of visa services causes concern for many Indian students

By Anuraag Kumar Nair — Published October 16, 2023

On September 18, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Canadian government was investigating “credible accusations” of a link between India’s government and the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C, on June 18. The Indian government had previously accused Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, of leading a militant group called the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). 

In response to these allegations, the Indian government stopped processing visa applications for Canadian citizens, and both India and Canada have ordered some of the others’ diplomats to withdraw. 

Many Indian students on campus face increasing uncertainty about how the diplomatic standoff will affect their futures. Additionally, some analysts have raised concerns that the travel advisories issued by both nations could affect the number of aspiring international students from India who seek higher education in Canada.  

In an interview with The Globe and the Mail, Roopa Desai Trilokekar — a professor of education at York University — said that the diplomatic tensions could cause a “dip” in the number of Indian student applicants. She said their repercussions would depend on the “official stances” either government takes. 

Read the full article on The Varsity website.