Sachin Dev is one of many international students who know about Canada’s extension of the ban Direct flight from India Because he tried to go to Montreal before the start of the new semester.
The PhD student at McGill University has been planning a circuitous route so that he can Coronavirus disease Tested in another country before arriving in Canada-he said this effort has resulted in five flight cancellations and economic losses to his family.
Due to concerns about the Delta variant, Canada will extend the ban on flights from India until August 21
“I think I am behind,” the 27-year-old said in an interview in Delhi.
“Buying air tickets through a third country is not only five or six times more expensive, but also involves the risk of infection. I am facing financial problems because I cannot get my (university) allowance, which requires a Canadian bank account and study permit, and I can only be at the airport receive.”
Dev said that Canada’s flight ban has been repeatedly extended, and the pandemic quarantine requirements of other countries that Indian passport holders need to pass through are constantly changing, which is why he has cancelled some flights. He is now trying to book another route to Montreal, stopping in the United Arab Emirates and Serbia.
Canada bans direct flights from India-announced on April 22 India Experienced a massive surge in COVID-19 cases and extended it again this month-this means that international students have to make complicated travel itineraries, bear the cost of long-distance travel, and deal with the uncertainty of getting COVID-19 tests In a third country.
For Sayana Sherif, conducting such a test at an Egyptian airport on the way to Canada was one of the most challenging parts of her journey.
“I’m a little worried”: As autumn approaches, international students face obstacles related to COVID
“The whole process is completely chaotic,” she said. “Passengers must be responsible for themselves, organize themselves, collect test fees in batches, and we ourselves will assist the entire administrative procedure in pre-testing.”
Her route from India included passing through Oman and Egypt, then landing in Toronto and driving to her student dormitory in Montreal.
Like Dev, Sharif also saw several flights cancelled or postponed during the pandemic before being able to arrive in Canada.
Another student from India, Gaurav Kamath, said that the flight ban puts a lot of pressure on those trying to get a higher education degree in Canada.
Camas said: “At the moment, Indian students are really desperate,” Camas said, who recently arrived in Canada via Paris and the Dominican Republic.
“Those who get the admission letter must pay the fee at this time, so I don’t think there is any problem for them to give up this opportunity. They will choose any way to enter Canada.”
India is one of the main source countries for international students coming to Canada.
The policy director of Kareem El-Assal _ CanadaVisa.com, a resource website operated by Quebec immigration law firms, called this situation a “painful travel process.” But he said that the high demand of Indian students for Canadian university education means that most people will endure the obstacles caused by the ban.
Although he expects India’s enrollment to fall this academic year, he said that once travel restrictions are relaxed, enrollment may soar again.
“There will be negative effects in the short term,” El-Assal said. “In the medium and long term, Canada has provided such a compelling package for international students. Once the pandemic has passed, there should be no negative impact.”
The federal government cited the recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Canada when it extended the flight ban in early August.
“Canada’s approach to easing border measures in stages is through continuous monitoring of available data and scientific evidence,” it said at the time. “Although Canada continues to move in the right direction, the global epidemiology and vaccination coverage are not the same.”
