The Canadian government is reportedly seeking new powers to revoke visa applications from groups of foreign nationals—particularly from India and Bangladesh—over concerns of fraudulent entries, according to a report by CBC News.
Canada Plans Crackdown on Alleged Visa Fraud
Internal documents obtained by CBC reveal that immigration authorities are closely monitoring visa applications from India and Bangladesh due to what officials describe as “country-specific challenges.” The presentation, made in the office of Canada’s Immigration Minister, highlights that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and unnamed U.S. partners are working together to identify and cancel visas obtained through fraudulent means.
As per the report, these agencies have formed a collaborative task group to share intelligence and prevent the entry of ineligible travelers, focusing mainly on applicants from the two South Asian nations.
Reasons Behind Mass Visa Cancellation
The presentation explained that the mass visa cancellation powers could be exercised under special circumstances such as a pandemic, war, or large-scale fraud investigations. Canadian Immigration Minister Lena Diab justified the proposal by saying it was necessary “to deal with situations arising out of pandemics or wars,” though she did not name any specific countries.
However, internal documents cited by CBC suggest that the primary motivation behind the proposal is the rising number of fraudulent or questionable visa applications, particularly from India and Bangladesh.
Mass Visa Cancellation, Part of Canada’s Border Control Bill
The measure to cancel multiple visa applications simultaneously was originally introduced under Bill C-2, the government’s broad border security legislation. That bill has now been split into smaller sections, with the mass visa cancellation provision now part of Bill C-12, which Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is reportedly trying to pass quickly.
The CBC report further noted a sharp rise in protection claims from Indian nationals, increasing from around 500 per month in May 2023 to nearly 2,000 by July 2024. Officials say this has slowed down visa processing times, especially for temporary resident visa (TRV) applications from India.
Canada’s Official Response on Mass Visa Cancellation
Responding to CBC News, Minister Diab’s office stated that Canada has taken “concrete steps to minimize unnecessary border volumes, increase information sharing, and reduce non-genuine visitors and illegal crossings at the border.”
In short, Canada is seeking powers to cancel group visa applications, particularly from India and Bangladesh, citing rising fraud and asylum claims, though officials maintain the move is linked to broader border and security concerns.
