Canada Visa Application Centre are reopening in India

The Canadian government has just announced that its Visa Application Centers (VACs) in India will resume service tomorrow, November 20, 2020.

In a new tweet, the government said it would schedule limited biometric appointments in Delhi, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru. It will give priority to international students and applicants from the family class.

The resumption of biometrics is the last major hurdle remaining for people in India who are exempt from Canada’s coronavirus travel restrictions.

Although international students have been exempt from Canada’s travel restrictions since October 20, Indian students who have not yet submitted biometrics cannot travel to Canada. The same could be said of family class immigrants and skilled workers who are also exempt from travel restrictions.

After the VACs resume their services in India, those exempt from Canada’s travel restrictions will be able to submit their biometrics so they can complete their immigration application processes for eventual arrival in Canada.

The government added on Twitter that it would not accept walk-in clients at VACs. Rather, appointments should be booked in advance and you can only visit your VAC if you are attending your appointment.

If Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have sent you a unique Biometric Letter of Instructions (BIL), you will receive more instructions on your email ID on how to schedule your biometric appointment.

The government concluded by saying that more appointments would gradually become available each week as the service phases progressed.

India is by far the main source of immigrants and international students to Canada.

In 2019, Canada welcomed more than 85,000 immigrants from India, a quarter of the more than 341,000 new permanent residents admitted by Canada.

Last year, Canada welcomed 220,000 international students, more than a third of the more than 640,000 international students in Canada in 2019.

For the immigrants who are looking to apply for a visitor visa, study permit, work permit, permanent residence, visitor record, refugee or asylum status, or applying for an extension of their study or work permit, a Biometric is required to be submitted.

They have to submit their fingerprints and photograph and also pay a fee. The purpose of biometrics is to allow Canada to confirm the identity of foreign travelers when they enter the country.

Reference is taken from CIC News