OTTAWA: The Canadian government is considering a proposal that would grant the country’s immigration authorities the power to cancel temporary visas in bulk, a move that could notably affect applicants from India and Bangladesh.
The proposal, aimed at addressing rising concerns over visa fraud and misuse, is still under review.
According to Canadian media reports, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have jointly requested the government to authorize mass cancellations of temporary visas if widespread fraud or abuse is detected. This would allow officials to revoke visas collectively, rather than processing each case individually, in instances of significant wrongdoing or national emergency.
Under the proposed plan, Canada would have the legal ability to revoke visas in cases involving fraud, health crises, or national security concerns, providing the IRCC with a more efficient and immediate response mechanism.
The move follows a rise in fraudulent visa applications, particularly from countries like India and Bangladesh. These nations have seen a surge in both temporary visa requests and political asylum claims, with Canadian authorities grappling with increasing cases of document fraud and challenges in verifying applicants’ credentials.
Sources suggest that although the proposal does not mention specific countries, internal presentations have flagged India and Bangladesh as “high-risk” due to the volume of fraudulent cases and asylum claims from these regions. Canadian officials are also reportedly working with U.S. counterparts to strengthen visa rejection and cancellation procedures.
This potential shift in immigration policy is part of broader efforts to ensure the integrity of Canada’s immigration system amid growing concerns over abuses of the temporary visa process.
