Canada visa services now available only in Delhi

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
• What is the Vienna Convention?
• What is Article 11.1 about?
• News Summary: Canada visa services now available only in Delhi
• What is the expected fallout of this situation?
• How many Indian students are there in Canada?
• Why do so many Indian students seek to study in Canada?
• How does having international (including Indian) students help Canada?

Why in news?

• Canada has stopped visa and consular services at its Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru consulates. These services will now be available only at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi.
• This has happened after Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi said it would revoke their diplomatic immunity.
• Canada has since called for New Delhi to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
  • India insists that its actions are consistent with the tenets set forth in Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

• The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is an international treaty signed by 61 countries in 1961.
• It puts forth a framework for diplomatic interactions between independent nations and aims to ensure the ‘development of friendly relations among nations’.
• At present 193 countries are party to the document.

What is Article 11.1 about?

• Article 11.1 of the convention says that if there is no clear agreement on how big a mission should be, the country hosting the mission can ask that the mission size stays within what they consider reasonable and usual.
• This decision will depend on the situation in the hosting country and the mission's specific needs.

News Summary: Canada visa services now available only in Delhi

• Recently, Canada said it had withdrawn 41 diplomats following an Indian threat to unilaterally revoke their status. This decision is the most recent fallout of the diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
  • The diplomatic dispute was triggered by PM Trudeau’s allegation that India may have had a hand in the killing of a Khalistani separatist in Canada this June.

What is the expected fallout of this situation?

• The downsizing of Canada’s diplomatic corps and halting of visa and consular services in three major Indian cities will lead to a significant slowdown of Indian visa applications for Canada.
• A very large chunk of these visa applications are from Indian students who seek to study in Canadian universities.

How many Indian students are there in Canada?

• Around two million Canadians, 5% of the overall population, have Indian heritage.
• Canada is the second largest overseas destination for Indian students after the United States.
  • India is by far Canada’s largest source of global students, making up for roughly 40% of study permit holders.
• As of December 31, 2022, a total of 319,130 Indian students comprised 39.5% of the international student population in Canada.
• Other preferred destinations for Indian students: United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
• In 2022, India was the top country for permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, and international students in Canada.

Why do so many Indian students seek to study in Canada?

• Apart from the fact that quality education in English is available at many levels and in a wide range of subjects, Canada’s government has worked proactively to attract foreign students.
• In 2022, it launched the Student Direct Stream (SDS), a fast-track visa processing programme for students from India, China, Philippines, and Vietnam.
• In April 2023, it announced a Post-Graduation Work Permit Extension programme, under which international students may stay on for up to three years after graduation, gaining valuable work experience and potentially a secure job in Canada.

How does having international (including Indian) students help Canada?

• Indian students make a substantial and positive contribution to the Canadian economy:
  • Through tuition fees for colleges and universities, and
  • by spending on living expenses such as food, accommodation, and transportation.
• Tuition fees for international students in Canada are typically two to three times what is paid by domestic students.
• Canada is a vast country, the world’s second-largest by area, with a very small population — less than 4 crore, which is comparable to that of Kerala.
• It is generally welcoming of immigrants, and the Canadian economy benefits from the labour of international students in critical sectors.

Q1) What is Post-Graduation Work Permit Extension programme?

The Post-Graduation Work Permit Extension program (PGWPP) allows international students who have graduated from Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) to obtain an additional 18-month open work permit (OWP). The PGWPP allows students to work for up to three years after they complete their studies in Canada. The length of a PGWP depends on the length of the program completed by the international graduate.

Q2) What is Student Direct Stream?

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) is a program in Canada that expedites the study permit processing for eligible students from 14 different countries. The SDS is offered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Source: Canada visa services now available only in Delhi: How will Indian visa seekers, including students, be impacted? | Live Mint | Indian Express