India Takes Measures To Fast-track Canada Visa Regime

27 Jan 2014

Akhilesh Mishra, Indian Consul General said that the Indian consulate in Canada has taken numerous steps to make its visa regime more prompt and transparent to expedite tourism, air travel, social, economic and cultural ties between the two countries.

After unfurling the Indian National Flag to celebrate the 65^th Republic Day of India yesterday, Mishra said that India has successfully eradicated all sorts of intermediaries and middlemen who flourished on the obstacles in consular services’ delivery and processing.

He said, to streamline the visa regime, various steps were taken by the Consulate which includes rapid mechanism to address public grievances, prompt response to e-mails and speedy delivery of visa.

President Pranab Mukherjee’s message to the nation has been read by Mishra in English and Hindi.

The function was attended by a large number of Indo-Canadians, despite the freezing cold. Present on the occasion were several members of Indo-Canadian organizations including former President of the ICCC (Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce) - Satish Thakkar, and President & CEO of the SBI (State Bank of India) (Canada) - Mr Rajesh Gupta.

Mishra said that there was a backlog of more than 2500 services at the end of August 2013, including OCI, Passports, PCCs, PIO, Visas and surrender certificates, which were all cleared by December 2013.

Mishra added that the great cooperation and synergy between the needs of a rapidly increasing Indian economy and the unique strengths of the economy of Canada, and India is working to leverage the immense opportunities for mutually profitable cooperation.

He said that his vision is to develop at least 1,000 focal points in the community to guide and catalyze flow of investment and trade, both ways, between Canada and India.