September 21st 2023.
The diplomatic tension between India and Canada following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's remarks has put Indian students studying there and those aspiring to study there in a state of anxiousness. To add to this, the Government of India has issued an advisory cautioning students travelling to Canada about the security risks it entails. As a result of this advisory, Indian nationals living in Canada have been asked to register with the consulate.
Adding to this, India has put on hold the visa process, leaving many Indian students in limbo. According to Anmol Grewal, a student in Canada, "The escalation in tension has definitely hit us. There are already very few jobs doing the rounds, or housing options for students. Suddenly, we have to also contend with a trust deficit. Students are also staging rallies, which makes matters worse."
With more than 300,000 Indian students in Canada making it the largest international student contingent, the situation has become even more concerning. Gurpreet Singh, a student from Ludhiana, has already received his admission letter from York University in Toronto, and is awaiting his study permit. However, he is scared that the Canadian Embassy may deny him a student visa.
To put parents' minds at ease, Dhaval Mehta, a career consultant based in Mumbai, has advised families not to worry as no negative impact has been seen on immigration and study visas. Vishal Ahoja, a Jalandhar-based study visa consultant, has also commented that it is too early to make definitive statements, and that we must wait and see how both countries handle travellers' entry at their respective borders.
Ashish Madiwala, an Indian enrolled at Sheridan College, Mississauga, Ontario, has stated that the tension has not affected international students yet. However, he has also expressed concerns that this may have an impact on new students from India, making it more difficult for them to find accommodation.
Meanwhile, Navdeep Singh Brar, a permanent resident of Indian origin in Canada, is concerned about the advisory issued by the Indian Government. He is also upset that India has put on hold all visa services, as this is a major setback to their plans to travel to India for vacation.
The Ministry of External Affairs has stated that students living in Canada with valid visas or OCIs are free to travel to India. This statement has been made to alleviate the concerns of the Indian students in Canada.
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