Visa Fraud by Indians Puts Bangladesh and India in Spotlight

Due to a rise in visa fraud cases, the Canadian government is seeking the authority to cancel visas en masse for immigration applicants from Bangladesh and India. Canada is placing these countries under a “challenger” category to ensure that applicants involved in fraud cannot enter the country.

A recent document submitted to Canada’s Ministry of Immigration states that there has been an increase in fraudulent activity among applicants from Bangladesh and India. The government is therefore seeking the power to revoke visas in bulk if necessary. While this initiative applies to all countries, Bangladesh and India have been specifically highlighted as “challenger” countries, meaning they will face additional scrutiny.

Currently, the Canadian government only has the authority to cancel visas en masse during emergencies such as wars or global pandemics. The new proposal aims to extend this authority to countries placed in the “challenger” category. This means that in a complex situation, thousands of visas could be canceled with a single directive.

The proposal is currently before the Canadian Parliament as a bill and is expected to be enacted into law soon. However, human rights organizations are not satisfied with this move. Over 300 organizations, including the Migrant Rights Network, have expressed strong concern, warning that if the bill passes, Canada could effectively become a “mass deportation machine.