Diplomacy’ played on the ‘Visa Chessboard’/ Rashmi Talwar / Greater Jammu

Diplomacy’ played on the ‘Visa Chessboard’

Rashmi Talwar

AMRITSAR 28th OCTOBER 2023—- It was a week of throwing the VISA dice. There was no ‘blind’ turn on the Global chessboard of nations but sure-shot international diplomacy at play. The visa intrigue was not easy to solve though.

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Month after suspension, India resumes visas for Canadians, only in some categories

India resumed visa services in certain categories for Canadian citizens, nearly a month after being suspended in the aftermath of Canada’s allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and a week after 41 Canadian diplomats left India, in accordance with New Delhi’s demand. While tourist visas and e-visas are still held in abeyance, the Indian High Commission in Canada announced that it would begin accepting applications for visas for entry, business, medical, and conference purposes. Officials said that applications from Canadians in these categories would be accepted at Indian missions in other countries as well, which had also been suspended in the decision of September 21.

“After a considered review of the security situation that takes into account some recent Canadian measures in this regard, it was decided to resume visa services for certain categories,” the Indian High Commission in Ottawa stated.  Emergency situations would continue to be addressed. Tourism and e-visa services have not yet resumed; the move comes days after Canadian diplomats left in accordance with New Delhi’s demand.

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Indo-Canadian Spat Visa Suspension

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) call for a ‘Khalistan Referendum’ on October 29^th in Surrey

Amidst an unfriendly exchange between New Delhi and Ottawa over the unsubstantiated accusations of Indian agents involved in the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force Head Hardeep Singh Nijjar- a designated Terrorist by India. Matters reached a level when India scrapped the issuance of any fresh visas to Canadian citizens. This hardly had any effect on Indian citizens, especially students, businessmen, or those holding Indian passports as they could come to India owing to their citizenship rights in India. While, those of Indian origin, who have taken on Canadian citizenship, could freely visit India by using their OIC (Overseas Indian Citizen) cards. The main segment affected was the natural Canadian citizens. Last week, 41 Canadian diplomats were pulled from India after New Delhi said they would lose diplomatic immunity if they remained in station beyond October 20.

Nijjar, who was the organization -Sikh Force for Justice’s principal in British Columbia, was gunned down in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara that he headed in Surrey. While India designates Nijjar as a terrorist, the accusations against him by India were never tested in a Canadian court.

Meantime the pro-Khalistan elements in Canada continue to target India’s senior-most diplomats, as well as its missions, he said, ‘Although they are small in numbers’.

In a recent show of strength, Pro-Khalistanis carried posters ascribing Indian HC Sanjay K Verma, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar as -‘Enemies of Canada’ at car rallies to India’s High Commission in Ottawa and Indian Consulates in both Toronto and Vancouver this Saturday. The pro-Khalistan groups are emboldened by the fact that the law of the country gives them free reign in the name of freedom to issue threats and formulate separatist and divisive agendas against India. On October 29th the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) gave a call for a ‘Khalistan Referendum’ in Surrey- the hotbed of Khalistan propaganda in Canada. This clearly shows that Canada is not serious about the security of Indian diplomats and mission staff. Although Canada has provided personal security details to Indian diplomats while also enhancing coverage of the missions, it doesn’t seem serious.

The issuing of visas by India was suspended on September 21. India-Canada relations hit rock bottom on September 18^th after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared in the House of Commons that there were “credible allegations” of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey on June 18 in British Columbia.

In the fallout of these unsubstantiated allegations by the Canadian PM, both countries expelled a diplomat. Last week, 41 Canadian Diplomats were pulled from India after New Delhi said they would lose diplomatic immunity if they remained in station beyond Friday (October 20). Canada described that act as a “mass expulsion” of its diplomats, while India had argued that it wanted ‘parity’ in the size of the mission.

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US issues visa waiver for Israeli citizens  

Travellers from Israel can travel to America for 90 days without a visa. The United States of America launched a ‘visa waiver’ recently allowing Israelis to visit the United States for 90 days without applying for a visa.

The US announced adding Israel to the visa waiver program, thus adding it to a select group of 40 countries mostly European and Asian countries, whose citizens could travel to America for three months without a visa.

America had said that Israelis can start traveling to America without a visa from November 30. The Department of Homeland Security said the program had become operational.

For visa-less travel to the US, the Israelis must have a biometrically enabled passport. Those who do not have such a passport must still apply for a U.S. visa, the department said. This process may take up to 72 hours following which they can travel to America

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Canada’s visa slowdown in India

Mounting diplomatic tensions between Canada and India have led to the visa services at the offices of the consulate general of Canada in Chandigarh being temporally suspended and currently only operating in New Delhi. This is worrying especially for Punjab where Canada scored as the top educational destination of choice.

The halt in its in-person visa services in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chandigarh has put Indian students in dilemma, and contemplate applying for study visas to other educational destinations in the world.

The high housing cost and cost of living in Canada have also discouraged parents from pursuing Canada. Hence Australia and Britain are the likely gainers for serious students and not those who were applying to Canadian universities with the end goal of gaining Canadian citizenship.

On the quieter front, private banks in India have given an informal direction to their loan officers to hold back educational loan applications and deliver loans to those students applying for study visas in Canada.

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Visa-less to Sri Lanka for Indians

The Sri Lankan cabinet approved the issuance of free tourist visas to Indian passport holders, Foreign Minister Ali Sabri stated on Tuesday.

The move is expected to aid Sri Lanka’s efforts to rebuild the tourism sector to pay off the huge accumulated debt. The Sri Lanka cabinet has approved the proposal to grant with immediate effect free visas to travellers from six other countries including India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Surprisingly, no European country is on the Sri Lankan visa-free list and neither is the United States of America. The visa-less policy has started as a pilot project in Sri Lanka and will continue till March 31^st when it will presumably be reviewed.

The aim is that increased travel of visitors from these seven nations is expected to increase tourist arrivals in the island country to over 50 lakh in the coming years, said the Sri Lankan Tourism Ministry. Many island nations especially were deeply affected by the aftereffects of the pandemic while Sri Lanka is seen to be making efforts to climb out of an economic trough. The tourism arrivals after this new policy are expected to marginally cross the 15 lakh mark. However, the move is being seen as one that opens up exciting possibilities for seamless travel between the two neighbouring countries. 

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Israel refuses visa to UN over remarks “justifying Hamas attack”, says Israel  

Israel refused to issue visas to UN representatives after remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appeared to justify Hamas’s terror attacks on Israel. Israel was reportedly learned to have said -” The time has come to teach the UN a lesson, calling it a “HUGE setback” for the UN & its propagandists.

Israel called for the resignation of UNSG Antonio Guterres after he told the Security Council ‘Hamas attacks did not happen in a vacuum’.

Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Eli Cohen, who participated in a Security Council ministerial meeting on the Israel-Gaza situation in the UN, canceled a scheduled meeting with UN Secretary-General on Tuesday afternoon at UN headquarters. The Secretary General later said his statement was misrepresented denying that he justified terror attacks against Israel.

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Some visa-free locations for Indians:

Indian passport holders can travel to as many as 57 countries without a visa. Ten of them are:

Nepal- Mount Everest, is known for its picturesque villages, vibrant cities, stunning farmlands, and mountaineering sites. Indian citizens do not require a visa to enter Nepal nor do Nepalese require any visa for India. Nevertheless, those from other countries require a visa valid for six months from the date of issue.

Barbados- known to be the ‘Jewel of the Caribbean’ is renowned for having some of the most stunning beaches in the world.

Bhutan- Its proximity to India requires it merely to possess a  valid passport or identification to travel to India. If the visit is for a week in Bhutan, it is exempted from any visa for Indians.

Hong Kong – is one of the most famous regions in China, with a blend of stunning natural and architectural features. Indian passport holders can be here without a visa for a maximum of 14 days.

 Seychelles– An archipelago of 115 islands off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean is an ideal eco-friendly trip. It is a visa-free country but requires a permit on arrival from its Immigration Department. This permit is valid for 30 days.

Haiti – the Dominican Republic is a Caribbean nation. An Indian passport holder, may enter and remain  in the country for up to 90 days without a visa

Mauritius– an island nation in the Indian Ocean is famous for its white sand beaches, stunning lagoons, and coral reefs. Indians can stay in Mauritius for 90 days visa-less

Dominica, a mountainous Caribbean island nation, enjoys warm, tropical weather. Indian Nationals on business or pleasure are exempt from any visa requirement for a period of six months here.  

Maldives – a South Asian country is one of the many island destinations to soak up the sun, enjoy balmy weather, and spend luxuriously in exotic resorts. Indian passport holders do not require any form of visa for 90 days for the purpose of tourism.

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