India Tops the List for Longest Visa Delays

• Written by Yash

  Reviewed by Rashmi Rai

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Indian nationals applying for a visitor visa to Canada are now facing the longest processing delays among major applicant countries, according to the latest data from IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada). The average wait time for applications submitted from India is now 99 days, while applicants from Pakistan are waiting an average of 59 days, and those from China wait around 41 days. For countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, the processing time is significantly shorter, roughly 20 to 30 days.

Super Visa Applications Also Facing Major Delays

For special “Super Visa” applications, typically submitted by parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, the delay is even more pronounced for Indian applicants, averaging about 169 days. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says the figures reflect real-time processing for about 80% of applications under this category, representing a shift from its previously published service standards.

Possible Reasons Behind the Delays

Analysts attribute the extended delays to a combination of factors, including high application volumes from India, increased security and background checks, and resource constraints at visa processing centres.

Advice for Indian Travellers

For travellers from India planning to visit Canada, experts recommend submitting applications well in advance, opting for online submission where possible, and ensuring all documentation is complete to avoid additional delays.

Canada’s processing standard for visitor visas submitted from abroad stands at 14 days, making the extended waits for certain countries particularly stark.