Canadian High Commission Ties Up With VFS

Anindita Chattopadhyay - New Delhi

The Canadian High Commission has tied up with VFS Private Ltd to operate nine new visa application centers, which have been opened in Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Jalandhar, Chandigarh and Mumbai. The initiative will enable applicants for temporary visas such as visitors, students and workers, to submit visa applications across the counter at these nine application centres.

The step has been taken to ease the increasing pressure on the High Commission in New Delhi and the Consulate General in Chandigarh and make it convenient for applicants who had to travel to New Delhi or Chandigarh to submit applications.

"In 2004, we issued 50,000 visas which is an increase of 40 per cent over 2003. We often receive 1,800 people in a day. So, we decided to partner with an Indian company to outsource business process for visas to offer professional service and convenience to applicants," said Lucie Edwards, Canada's high commissioner to India.

Added Sidney Frank, counsellor-immigration (India, Nepal, Bhutan), "If it works in India, we will explore the possiblity of applying the system in other parts of Asia." Canada, according to him, has always observed a strong VFR trend, while business and education travel have shown a significant increase over the last few years. VFS will charge a service fee of Rs 450 for all categories to forward the collected applications to the high commission for assessment and an additional Rs 165 if the applicant opts for a courier service for return delivery of the passport at their doorstep. "The applicant will get a response within two working days and if an interview is required, he or she will be able to choose the day and time of the interview," informed Frank.