SOUTH Asians in Canada are getting increasingly frustrated with the Trudeau government regarding the suspension of e-visa facility by India for Canadian citizens. That has caused massive delays and problems for South Asians wanting to visit India for a raft of reasons.

E-visas were a very convenient and speedy way to visit India. However, India suspended e-visas for Canadians and there is all kind of speculation as to why that happened. Canadians want Trudeau to take the matter up with India.

The suspension of e-visas by India has resulted in a massive rush at BLS International Services’ offices with applicants waiting for weeks to get a visa issued. The Indian government has contracted out their visa and related services to BLS International Services.

BLS International Services now requires applicants to fix an appointment online and it is reported that travel agencies have been cornering all the appointments because they know how to game the system. Whatever the truth of the matter may be, the fact is that BLS International Services cannot handle so many applicants who otherwise would have had the alternative of getting e-visas.

BLS International Services also have to deal with many other issues such as passports and surrender certificates.

The only way out of this dilemma is for India to restore e-visas for Canadians and the only hope for that happening is for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take the initiative and ask his ministers to take up the matter with India to resolve this issue.

South Asians are also being advised to take up the mater with their local MPs to put pressure on Ottawa.

This situation is not winning any friends for the Liberals who are always claiming that they know best how to look after the interests of South Asians.