Canada is seeking powers to cancel groups of temporary visas, especially from India and Bangladesh, amid fraud concerns and high rejection rates.
OTTAWA: In a major shift to its immigration policy, Canada is pushing for new legislation that would allow authorities to mass-cancel temporary visas, with a focus on applications from India and Bangladesh. This move comes amid growing concerns over fraudulent applications and a rising number of asylum claims from these countries.
The proposal is part of Bill C-12, which would give immigration officials and border authorities the power to cancel visa classes in bulk — especially during exceptional circumstances like pandemics, wars, or country-specific misuse. Internal documents from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) flagged India and Bangladesh as high-risk due to recent trends.
According to reports, Indian nationals accounted for a 74% rejection rate in student visa applications in August 2025 — a steep rise compared to 32% in 2023. By contrast, rejection rates for Chinese applicants remained at just 24% in the same period. At the same time, asylum claims by Indians spiked to 2,000 in July 2024, up from under 500 a year earlier.
To address the issue, Canada has formed a working group with US agencies to track, flag, and block suspect visa applicants. The plan, if passed, would allow sweeping visa cancellations without individual reviews — something critics argue could lead to unfair outcomes and violate due process.
More than 300 civil rights groups have raised concerns over the broad powers in Bill C-12, warning it could turn into a “mass deportation machine” affecting genuine applicants. Immigration lawyers say the proposed changes could discourage international students and workers from choosing Canada, affecting education and labour sectors.
While officials argue the move is necessary to maintain visa system integrity, the backlash highlights the risks of targeting specific nationalities. For many prospective Indian students and travellers, the Canadian dream may now come with more uncertainty than ever before.
