According to VFS Global, its visa application centers would continue to be open in 10 Indian locations.

Following Canada's announcement that it will be removing 41 of its diplomats from India, the supplier of visa services VFS Global stated that their centers for applying for Canadian visas will still be operating in 10 Indian locations.

In a statement released on October 20, VFS Global said: "Please note that our Canada visa application centers across 10 Indian cities continue to operate properly, as instructed by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)".

In the cities of New Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune, VFS Global runs visa application centers for Canada.

Significantly, IRCC is Canada's main immigration authority and is in charge of reviewing the numerous applications submitted by Indian citizens seeking visas for study, travel, or permanent residence.

After IRCC's statement that the reduction in Canada's diplomatic representation in India will influence the processing time for visas, VFS Global provided the explanation.

"The IRCC is downsizing from 27 to 5 personnel in India. Reduced personnel levels are anticipated to affect processing timelines, but IRCC will still accept and handle applications from India, it said.

Nevertheless, the Canadian immigration board explained that "89% of India's applications are processed through the worldwide network," meaning that the vast majority of applications from India have already been processed outside of India.

The five IRCC employees with Canadian bases who are still in India will concentrate on tasks that call for in-country presence, like expedited processing, printing visas, risk assessment, and managing important partners, it added.

Melanie Joly, the foreign minister of Canada, announced the removal of 41 diplomats from India on October 19 during a press conference in Ottawa. She claimed that the decision by New Delhi to grant diplomatic immunity to only 21 out of the 62 Canadian diplomats now stationed there made the move necessary.

I can confirm that, as of right now, India has formally communicated its intention to dishonestly revoke diplomatic immunity for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents based in Delhi by October 20. This would put the personal safety of 41 Canadian ambassadors and their 42 dependents in peril of having their immunity revoked on an arbitrary date, she told the news agency ANI.

Joly continued by saying that the action will have an impact on diplomatic operations in several Indian cities. What this signifies for our business in India may be a question on the minds of Canadian viewers. Without a doubt, India's choice will affect the level of services provided to Consulates in both nations. Sadly, all in-person services at our consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bangalore must be suspended "She spoke.

Last month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that there was a "possible link" between the two countries "in relation to the assassination of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar to Indian officials in Canada. The accusation has been refuted by the Indian government.