Canada is considering granting its immigration authorities expanded powers to cancel or block visa applications en masse under certain circumstances, including public emergencies such as pandemics or wars. While this move is framed as a general safeguard, internal Canadian documents have specifically identified India and Bangladesh as countries where visa applications could face heightened scrutiny due to “country-specific challenges.”

Canada’s Public Position

Immigration Minister Lena Diab of Canada has publicly stated that Ottawa is seeking powers to act swiftly during extreme situations such as a pandemic or war. According to her, these measures are aimed at protecting the integrity of the immigration system and ensuring public safety. The Canadian government has maintained that any new powers would not target any specific nationality, and that decisions would not be taken unilaterally without due process.

In a statement to CBC News, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said that the measures are intended to reduce non-genuine visitors, improve information sharing, and curb illegal border crossings. The department emphasized that these actions have already contributed to a 97 percent drop in illegal U.S.-Canada border crossings by foreign nationals from their peak in June 2024, along with a 71 percent reduction in asylum claims from temporary resident visa (TRV) holders in May compared to the previous year. Visa refusals for fraud also reportedly rose by 25 percent between January and May 2025.

Internal Documents and Country-Specific Concerns

Despite Canada’s public stance of neutrality, an internal document obtained by CBC News reveals that Indian and Bangladeshi applicants have been singled out due to certain operational challenges.

The document cites a sharp rise in asylum claims from Indian nationals, from fewer than 500 per month in May 2023to around 2,000 per month by July 2024. This surge, the document notes, has slowed down processing of temporary resident visa applications from India. Average processing times increased from 30 days in July 2023 to 54 days by July 2024, reflecting the additional verification required for many applicants.

Additionally, approvals for Indian visa applications declined in 2024, as resources were diverted toward verification efforts. While 63,000 approvals were recorded in January 2024, the number fell to roughly 48,000 by June. The document also highlighted an increase in “no boards” from India—passengers who were prevented from boarding flights due to issues with their travel documents or pending verification.

By July 2024, 1,873 Indian applicants had been flagged for additional questioning and sent procedural fairness letters, outlining their rights and potential legal remedies. No equivalent data for Bangladesh was disclosed in the document, although the country was also noted for “country-specific challenges.”

Operational Challenges in Visa Processing

The Canadian authorities cite several operational challenges as the basis for increased scrutiny of Indian applications:

1. Volume and surge of claims: The rapid increase in asylum claims from Indian nationals created a bottleneck in processing times.
2. Verification demands: Temporary resident visa applications required more extensive verification, increasing administrative workload.
3. No board incidents: A notable rise in passengers being denied boarding highlighted potential issues with documentation and compliance.
4. Fraud prevention: Heightened checks were necessary to prevent fraudulent visa applications and ensure compliance with Canadian immigration laws.

These factors, combined with increased cross-border migration pressures, appear to have contributed to India being specifically mentioned in internal assessments, even if Canada publicly maintains that the powers are not intended to target any one nationality.

Canada’s Broader Immigration Strategy

The proposed powers for mass visa cancellations fit into a broader Canadian immigration strategy focused on maintaining system integrity and responding to emergencies. Officials stress that these measures are part of ongoing efforts to manage temporary resident visa applications from countries with higher rates of misuse or fraud.

The IRCC also highlighted the results of existing measures, noting substantial reductions in illegal crossings and asylum claims. The department’s statements suggest that the new powers are preventive and administrative tools, allowing immigration officers to act quickly if a surge or misuse threatens system efficiency or public safety.

Implications for Indian and Bangladeshi Applicants

While Canada has framed these measures as emergency powers, the internal documents reveal that applicants from India could face:

• Longer processing times due to additional verification procedures.
• Higher scrutiny for both temporary resident visas and asylum claims.
• Potential procedural checks, including additional questioning and letters outlining rights.
• Impact on travel plans, as flagged applicants may experience delays or be prevented from boarding flights.

For Bangladeshi applicants, while details are less clear, the reference in internal documents suggests that similar verification pressures could apply, reflecting Canada’s concern over “country-specific challenges.”

Context of Rising Asylum Claims

The surge in asylum claims from India aligns with global trends of increased mobility and migration pressures. Factors include:

• Economic considerations and employment opportunities in Canada.
• Increased awareness of Canada’s immigration pathways.
• Broader geopolitical or regional issues that encourage temporary migration or asylum applications.

While these trends are not unique to India, the volume of claims and the administrative burden they create have prompted Canada to consider extraordinary measures to safeguard its immigration system.

Conclusion

Canada’s internal documents and public statements reveal a nuanced approach: while officially emphasizing emergency and neutral powers, internal assessments acknowledge India and Bangladesh as countries presenting operational challenges in immigration processing. The rise in asylum claims, procedural verifications, and no-board incidents in India appear to have prompted the federal government to seek broader powers to manage surges efficiently.

Authorities stress that the proposed powers are not intended for arbitrary use, and any decision to cancel visas would involve due process and safeguards. Nonetheless, the spotlight on India underscores the practical challenges of managing high-volume immigration flows, balancing security and administrative efficiency, and addressing procedural backlogs in a complex global migration environment.

In essence, India has been “singled out” not for political reasons but due to operational pressures on Canadian immigration authorities, reflecting a broader strategy to enhance system resilience and safeguard against misuse while maintaining procedural fairness for applicants.