Canada's Visa Processing Woes: India Takes Notice, Expands Passport Services

India has taken notice of the delays in Canada's visa processing for retired officials who previously served in the country. The issue was confirmed by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in a written response to Parliament. While the exact reasons behind the delays remain unclear, India and Canada are engaged in discussions to address the matter.

In a separate development, India's Ministry of External Affairs is working to enhance digital and online facilities for faster passport processing. The ministry has taken several steps to expand the service accessibility and upgrade the network of Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) across the country.

As of now, 93 PSKs and 456 POPSKs are operational under 37 Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) across the country. The ministry has also opened numerous Seva Kendras at the Head Post Offices (HPOs)/ Post Offices (POs) in each Lok Sabha constituency where there is no PSK or POPSK.

In addition, the ministry has made available the 'Apply anywhere in India' scheme under which a passport can be applied for at any PSK/ POPSK. The Passport Mobile Vans have been widely deployed to allow on-site passport processing in remote, rural, hilly and less serviced areas.

The expansion of passport services is a significant step towards improving the accessibility of passport services to citizens across the country. With the 'Apply anywhere in India' scheme, citizens can now submit their passport applications at any PSK or POPSK, making the process more convenient and accessible.

The Indian government's efforts to address the visa processing impasse and expand passport services demonstrate its commitment to improving the lives of its citizens. As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: India is committed to resolving this visa processing impasse and providing its citizens with the best possible services.

The expansion of passport services is a significant step towards improving the accessibility of passport services to citizens across the country. With the 'Apply anywhere in India' scheme, citizens can now submit their passport applications at any PSK or POPSK, making the process more convenient and accessible.

The Indian government's efforts to address the visa processing impasse and expand passport services demonstrate its commitment to improving the lives of its citizens. As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: India is committed to resolving this visa processing impasse and providing its citizens with the best possible services.

Key Takeaways:

• India is aware of delays in Canada's visa processing for retired officials who previously served in the country.
• The Ministry of External Affairs is working to enhance digital and online facilities for faster passport processing.
• 93 PSKs and 456 POPSKs are operational under 37 RPOs across the country.
• The 'Apply anywhere in India' scheme allows citizens to submit their passport applications at any PSK or POPSK.
• The Indian government is committed to resolving the visa processing impasse and providing its citizens with the best possible services.