Visa backlog puts Nova Scotia universities in limbo

Some international students' visas trapped in strike action by foreign service officers.
Universities in Nova Scotia say they are scrambling to deal with a possible shortfall of international students because a strike by foreign service officers is delaying some visa applications.
The federal government and the union representing diplomats and immigration officers abroad — the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers — have been locked in a contract negotiation battle for months. As part of escalating job action measures, diplomats at key visa application centres abroad have scaled back some of their services, including processing visas required for international students studying at Canadian universities and colleges.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada officials said processing times are within a two-month standard, but university administrators say some students have already decided to go elsewhere. More...