The futures of hundreds of Punjabi youth in Canada are in jeopardy. In fact, hundreds of applications have been rejected. The backlog of immigration files in Canada has grown so rapidly that the entire system is under pressure. The backlog has reached nearly 1 million, and the impact is most pronounced on Indians, especially families from Punjab.
The Canadian state of Ontario has abruptly suspended the Skilled Trades Stream under its Provincial Nominee Program (OINP). Following this government decision, all pending applications in this category have been returned, raising doubts about the future of thousands of applicants. According to reports, approximately 2,600 applicants were waiting for their files to be accepted. Now, the closure of the stream has dashed everyone’s hopes.
Protests continued for the third consecutive day outside the Ontario Legislature. The protesting youth have stated that they will not end their protest until the government assures them that their rejected applications will be reconsidered. The youth say their files were rejected without a fair chance, and they are now deeply concerned about their future.
10-Year Multiple-Entry Visa Now Only 3.5 Years
Also, parents and elders traveling to visit young people settled in Canada are now facing extraordinary delays. Previously, Indians could easily obtain a 10-year multiple-entry visitor visa to Canada, but the new policy has reduced this to just 3.5 years. The shock is that the multiple-entry option has been virtually eliminated—in most cases, only single-entry visas are now issued. This means that a new visa application must be filed every time they return to India, making travel more burdensome and complicated than before. Approximately 700,000 Punjabi youth live in Canada, and their parents and relatives often visit them. However, with stricter regulations, family visits are no longer as easy as before.
