New Delhi:
Canada has announced several measures to protect international students from fraud. One of the most significant changes is that post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLI) will be required to confirm each applicant’s acceptance letter through a new verification process before issuing a study permit starting December 1.
In a statement, the Canadian government said the country is a top destination for international students, but they have also experienced some serious challenges navigating Canada’s international student program.
The announcement comes days after India reopened visas for students from four categories of the travel document. India had stopped visa services from Canada after ties deteriorated over Canada’s alleged inaction against Khalistani elements.
The new process will help international students avoid issues that some of them faced earlier this year due to fraud investigations, and will also ensure that study permits are only issued on the basis of genuine letters of acceptance, said Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller in the statement. .
In time for the fall 2024 semester, IRCC will adopt a framework of “recognized institutions” to serve post-secondary DLIs that will set a higher standard of services, supports and outcomes for international students, the Canadian government said, adding that these DLIs will benefit, for example, from the priority processing of study permits for applicants who plan to attend their school. IRCC refers to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
“We are also reviewing post-graduation work permit criteria and will begin implementing changes in the coming months that will benefit Canadian employers across the country and help achieve regional and francophone immigration goals,” said Canada in the statement.
The Canada Border Services Agency had earlier this year sent deportation letters to about 700 Indian students, mostly from Punjab, after finding their admission letters to Canadian universities were fake.
Most of the students had arrived in Canada in 2018, but claimed the issue of forged letters only surfaced after five years when they applied for permanent residency.
The issue had resonated in Canada’s parliament, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said his focus was on “identifying the perpetrators and not punishing the victims.”