By Shilpashree Jagannathan
New Canadian Media

Canadians can make travel plans to India after the government resumed visa services, the Indian Embassy in Ottawa announced.

India still hasn’t reinstated the e-visa program for Indians who have immigrated to Canada, which was issued within 48 hours of applying before India suspended the program.

In September, India cancelled e-visa services due to the ongoing India-Canada political standoff. “Further decisions, as appropriate, would be intimated based on continuing evaluation of the situation,” said the Sept. 20 media release from the Indian High Commission in Ottawa.

The government said the move was due to the “growing anti-Indian activities, politically condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada.”

Since then, informal groups have begun lobbying on messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to have visa services reinstated. They also spoke out on Twitter and circulated an online petition demanding the restoration of e-visas. The approaching Hindu festivals, including Dasara and Diwali, which hold immense cultural significance for Indians and are often associated with homecoming, have amplified the issue.

Canadian citizens of Indian origin eager to obtain an entry visa face a waiting period of approximately 45 days. Additionally, presenting an Indian passport surrender certificate is a requisite for the application. This stipulation poses challenges for recent Canadian citizens who have not yet procured their surrender certificates.

Meanwhile, Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller confirmed Oct. 19, that the ongoing diplomatic dispute between Canada and India will result in slower visa processing of Indians planning to travel to Canada.