Bharat has broadened its visa services in Canada, normalizing the issuance of visas after a hiatus. BLS International Services Canada Inc, the firm handling outsourced visa services, has increased its centres from nine to twelve, with new facilities in Regina, Halifax, and Mississauga. These centres, operational since January 1, will accept passport, visa, OCI card, and attestation applications through appointments or walk-ins.
Bharat’s High Commissioner, Sanjay Kumar Verma, mentioned that the outsourcing contract allows for the possibility of establishing new centres in other Canadian cities based on demand. Premium services, including seasonal visits to Canadian cities, are also part of the contract.
The demand for these services has surged alongside the growing Indo-Canadian population, reaching approximately 2.4 million. Verma emphasized that the increasing immigration from India to Canada has led to a rise in the demand for consular services and Indian visas.
Visa services were only normalized on November 22, restoring e-visas for Canadian citizens across all categories. This followed a temporary suspension on September 21, prompted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement regarding “credible allegations” of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18.
The resumption of e-visas marked the latest relaxation in visa issuance for Canadian citizens. On October 26, India had already resumed visa services in four categories: entry, business, medical, and conference visas. The initial suspension was attributed to safety and security considerations, leading to the temporary halt in visa services by the High Commission of India and the Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver.
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