As tensions between India and Canada continue to escalate, the study visa success rate for Indian students applying to study in Canada remains above 90%.
While IELTS enrolments have dipped in Punjab, the study visa success rate for Canada was around 90% for most IELTS centers.
Even though students have not faced any problems in obtaining visas for the past few days, they fear that there is a possibility of an unannounced visa ban by the Canadian Embassy in India.
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 the Indian government’s potential link in the death of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada
So far, the Canadian government has not made any official changes, and students will still need to obtain study visas through the Canadian Embassy.
However, since India suspended visas for Canadians from September 21, 2023, there is a lot of uncertainty around the situation.
Jain, a representative of an IELTS center in Punjab, said that in the past few days, their center has obtained 150 visas.
One more aspirant from Jalandhar added that he had planned to go to Canada and enroll in a course. “However, given the recent developments in India-Canada relations, I want to reconsider my options. I will decide later when to take the IELTS courses. Even four of my friends from the same class have deferred their plans for now,” he said.
Every year, approximately 226,450 students from India pursue education in Canada. This number continues to grow. In the first six months of 2023, around 1.75 lakh students have already received visas.
In 2022, India was the top source of new international students entering Canada. Of the 551,405 international students that Canada welcomed in 2022, 226,450 were from India. This accounted for around 41% of the total international student population in the country.
In 2021, Indian students contributed $4.9 billion to the Canadian economy.
While the ongoing diplomatic row has led to India suspending visa services for Canadians and Canada reducing the number of diplomats in India due to security concerns, the study visa success rate for Indian students applying to study in Canada remains above 90%
