Canada Tightens Study Permit Rules to Protect International Students
Canada`s federal authorities plans to halt the processing of look at allows for post-secondary college students if establishments do now no longer nicely reveal the enrollment of global college students. Under the proposed regulations, schools and universities might be required to tell the federal Immigration Department approximately college students’ attendance and adherence to look at allow conditions.
New Regulations to Protect International Students
This initiative ambitions to shield global college students from scams and save you the misuse of take a look at lets in as a backdoor access for paintings in Canada. The proposed rules would require colleges and universities to inform the federal Immigration Department about whether a student is enrolled and adhering to all study permit regulations.
Under the plan published in the Canada Gazette, students must also apply for a new study permit whenever they want to switch schools, and before the start date of the new study program. One significant change would mandate that students who received a letter of acceptance for a DLI (Designated Learning Institution) other than the one indicated on their study permit and wish to switch institutions must apply for a new study permit before starting the new program. Until a decision is made on this application, students are allowed to attend the new institution as long as they remain in Canada and comply with all other study permit conditions.
Confirmation of Acceptance and Accompanying Family Members
The proposed regulations would also amend the existing provisions regarding the issuance of a study permit such that DLIs would be required to confirm the letter of acceptance (LOA) provided by an applicant. Additionally, accompanying family members would be exempt from LOA verification as long as their study or work permit is approved before their entry into Canada. However, once in Canada, if that family member moves to a post-secondary DLI, they would need an LOA that is required to be verified.
The new rules would instruct not to process a study permit application and return it to the student, along with supporting documents and processing fees, if a DLI does not provide confirmation of a student’s acceptance to a post-secondary institution as required under the conditions on DLIs. These regulatory amendments apply exclusively to post-secondary DLIs and post-secondary international students.
Maintaining Enrollment and Work Hours
Current stipulations require study permit holders to enroll at the designated learning institution (DLI) specified on their study permit and maintain continuous enrollment until they finish their studies. Amendments to the provisions regarding study permit invalidity would specify that the permit may become invalid on the day the permit holder ceases to be enrolled at the DLI named on the permit. Additionally, the limit on off-campus work during regular academic sessions would be increased from 20 hours per week to 24 hours per week.
Shared Responsibility and Compliance
The administration of the International Student Program is a shared responsibility between Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Canada’s provinces and territories. Regular compliance reporting to IRCC by designated learning institutions (DLIs) is a key feature of the proposal. Institutions must provide timely responses to inquiries and requests as stipulated in the new regulations.
Impact on Indian Students
Last year, hundreds of students, predominantly from Punjab, were affected by a fraudulent middleman, Brijesh Mishra. These students arrived in Canada between 2017 and 2019, only to discover that their letters of offer of admission, necessary for acquiring a study permit, were fake. Upon arrival, they were asked to switch to a different college than the one listed in their study permit, often realizing the deception when attempting to apply for permanent residency.
Current International Student Statistics
As of December 2023, the number of international students in Canada stood at over 10 lakh. In 2022, Canada admitted 5.5 lakh new students from 184 countries, with India being the largest source country, contributing 2.2 lakh new students, followed by China with approximately 52,000 students. However, the number of students from India significantly declined in 2023. Between July and October 2022, the Canadian government processed around 1.46 lakh new study permit applications for Indian nationals, but the same period in 2023 saw a 40 percent reduction.
Measures to Address Overcrowding
The surge in international student numbers, combined with Canada’s housing crisis and strain on healthcare infrastructure, led the federal government to announce a two-year cap on international student intake in January. This measure will limit approved study permits to 3.60 lakh in 2024.
Conclusion
Canada’s new regulations aim to protect international students and ensure that study permits are used appropriately. These measures will help prevent scams and maintain the integrity of the study permit system. By tightening oversight and increasing compliance, Canada seeks to safeguard the educational and professional aspirations of international students.