Canada-India Diplomatic Tensions Cast Uncertainty Over Travel Plans

The Canadian office for Indian visa applications announced an immediate halt on Thursday. All foreign visitors to India must get a visa before their trip. Relations between the two countries have drastically deteriorated since Monday. According to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, New Delhi might be responsible for the murder of a Canadian citizen. So, if you were looking to book flight tickets from Canada to India, you might wanna first get informed about Canada-India Diplomatic Tensions Cast Uncertainty Over Travel Plans.

The suspension of visas has an impact on bilateral trade, the economy, and business and leisure travel. Many Canadians are concerned about trip cancellations and non-refundable travel packages. The uncertainty of the tense situation is having an impact on many people’s travel plans.

Tourists, businesspeople, and even some ex-Indian nationals are hurrying to change their flights and inquire about their trip deposits after India abruptly suspended visa applications in the country due to an escalating diplomatic spat.

A day after the Indian government advised its residents in Canada to “exercise the utmost caution” and suggested that their safety is in danger, BLS International, a company handling visa applications in Canada, published an online notification announcing the suspension of services until further notice.

Jothy Ilangovan, who was in line in front of the BLS office in Toronto, stated, “This shouldn’t happen to innocent people.” She came there to assist her brother, a 33-year resident of Canada who is a Canadian citizen, in getting a visa for a Hindu pilgrimage back to India. He was concerned about the possibility of postponing the trip because he had already reserved his time off from work. “All we want to do is go to the temple and pray.”

After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau charged the Indian government with organizing the murder of Canadian activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was advocating for an independent Sikh state in the Punjab region, relations between Canada and India have deteriorated to their lowest point in decades.

India has refuted the claim, calling it “absurd,” and retaliated with measures intended to limit travel between the two countries.

According to a representative for the company, Laurence Myre Leroux, travel to India for Canadian personnel at the Montreal-based engineering business SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., now known as AtkinsRéalis, is currently restricted to “essential reasons only.” She continued, “There hasn’t been any impact on operations so far, but the situation is being monitored closely.”

Due to India’s decision, the majority of Canadians won’t be allowed to visit without a visa. Travel agents claimed that Canadians’ online e-visa applications were also not undergoing processing. Most former Indian passport holders from Canada do not currently hold Overseas Citizen of India cards, which are necessary for entry without a visa.

Unnati Oza, a travel agent with a headquarters in Toronto, said: “This is going to affect Canada, and its trade and economy, where India has played a big role.” “I used to work with a customer who would travel to Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai twice a year for business. After this, where are Canadians going?

According to BLS International, India suspended visa services in Canada due to operational issues. It extends beyond business travel. The suspension of visas is also affecting vacationers: According to Indian official statistics, 280,000 Canadian tourists arrived in India last year, ranking Canada as the fifth-largest source of such visitors.

This morning, I’ve already received four or five calls. To appreciate the sights, they intend to travel in October and November and stay for eight to ten days. According to Lalit Sharma, an Ottawa-based travel expert who specializes in India, they are now concerned because the excursions are not refundable. “They can’t go if they don’t have the visas.”

A notice at the BLS office in Toronto advised visitors that visa services were no longer available due to “operational reasons.” On Thursday morning, most people in line were waiting to renew their Indian passports, but several of them also wanted to know if authorities had suspended their visas.

Mithun Ganguly had a better chance because he had gone to the BLS office to renew his passport. Despite the current Indian advice, he recently relocated to Canada and insisted that he doesn’t feel uneasy there. Visit Tripbeam.com for flight offers from USA to India.

According to the Immigration Department, India is currently the top source of immigration to Canada, accounting for 118,000 or 27% of the 437,000 new permanent residents in 2022.

In conclusion, the present political tensions between Canada and India create some uncertainty for travelers who are thinking about visiting either country. These tensions may necessitate changes to travel plans, which could have an impact on visa regulations, travel advisories, and diplomatic relations. If you want to book flights from Toronto to Delhi, consider contacting Tripbeam for the most recent information and assistance with your travel plans.