Amid rising diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, the Canadian Consulate General in Chandigarh has temporarily suspended services from Friday, official sources said.
Services are now available at the High Commission of Canada in Delhi. A notice on the door of the Consulate General of Canada in Chandigarh, on the 4th floor of the Elante Office Complex, Phase 1, Industrial Area, announced that consular services have been temporarily suspended.
Clients are advised to contact the Consulate Section of the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi at 7/8 Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021.
A security guard at the consulate office said that the office is open, but consular services are suspended. He added that a notice has been posted on the door and that they are unsure how long the suspension will last.
Applicants who had arrived to submit their documents and provide biometric fingerprints at the visa facilitation service center were caught unaware of the suspension of consular services. The visa facilitation center is located on the ground floor and forwards applications to the relevant embassies.
Gurwinder Singh from Fazilka, who had applied for a Canadian study visa, was surprised to find that consular services had been suspended. "I submitted my documents for a Canadian study visa last week and my appointment was scheduled for today. I had no idea that the Canadian Consulate General was closed here.
No one informed me, and if this is the case, the affected applicants should have been notified," Singh said. Data shows that more Indians apply for Canadian visas than visas for other countries.