Canadian authorities are moving to cancel fraudulent visa applications, focusing on applicants from India and Bangladesh. A joint task force between Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and US partners is investigating fake visitor visa submissions, according to a CBC News report.
The move follows a sharp rise in visa rejections for Indian students. In August, nearly 74 percent of Indian study permit applications were denied. Officials cited “country-specific challenges” and a surge in asylum claims from India, which jumped from fewer than 500 per month in May 2023 to about 2,000 by July 2024.
Processing times have nearly doubled, climbing from 30 to 54 days in a year. The slowdown has led to fewer approvals, dropping from over 63,000 in January 2024 to about 48,000 in June.
A new bill, now before Parliament, would grant Ottawa powers to cancel entire groups of visas during crises such as pandemics, wars, or fraud surges. However, over 300 civil society groups warn the proposal could enable mass deportations. Despite public concern, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government aims to pass the legislation quickly.
