January 26th, 2024 at 03:07 am
Canada Announces Major Visa Changes | IRCC Announces Admission Cap for International Students.
This is a significant policy shift in 2024. This site provides all of the information you need about Canada immigration news in 2024.
The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, has announced that the Canadian government will make significant reforms to the foreign student permit system. These reforms, which aim to stabilize growth and address the problems caused by recent rapid increases, highlight Canada’s commitment to protecting the integrity of its immigration system while still creating a welcoming environment for overseas students.
Cap on International Student Permits:
Beginning in 2024, the government will set an intake limitation for international student visa applications, limiting the number to around 360,000. This marks a 35% drop over the previous year. Concerns about some institutions abusing the system for financial gain, as well as the surge in demand for essential services like housing and healthcare, are the driving forces behind the decision.
Provincial and Territorial Caps:
To ensure justice, individual provincial and territorial caps have been created and weighted by population. This will result in more dramatic decreases in provinces with unsustainable growth. It’s worth noting that study permit renewals will be unaffected, and individuals seeking master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as elementary and secondary education, are free from the limit.
Implementing Cap and Attestation Letters:
Each province and territory will receive a portion of the quota as part of an allocation process, which they will then distribute to their approved educational institutions. Beginning January 22, 2024, every study permit application must include an attestation letter from the relevant province or territory. By March 31, 2024, provinces and territories are anticipated to have established a framework for providing attestation letters.
Changes to the Post-Graduate Work Permit Program:
To harmonize the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, eligibility requirements will be changed beginning September 1, 2024. International students in programs with curriculum licensing arrangements will no longer be eligible for post-graduate work permits. Furthermore, graduates of master’s and other short-term graduate-level programs will soon be eligible for a three-year work permit, giving them an extra opportunity to gather valuable experience.
Open work permits for spouses:
To speed open work permits, spouses of overseas students participating in master’s and doctoral programs will be eligible. However, spouses of students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible.
Maintaining Integrity
After Miller’s public comments about system integrity, several remedies were taken. Minister Miller noted issues such as colleges admitting students without providing promised education and the impact on key services owing to fast foreign student growth.
The IRCC recently acknowledged that some institutions have dramatically increased.
International students in Canada exceeded 800,000 in 2022 and are expected to exceed 900,000 in 2023. Concerned about a permissive designated learning institution (DLI) framework, Minister Miller has called for strong conversations between provincial governments and DLIs to oversee the system.
Other modifications to the international student program included tripling the cost-of-living requirement in December.
Canada to stabilize growth and decrease the number of new international student permits issued
These significant steps round up the International Student Program adjustments that were previously announced. Collectively, they strive to stabilize the total number of students arriving in Canada and alleviate pressures on housing, healthcare, and other services, while also ensuring that authentic students receive the necessary support and resources for an enriching study experience.
Quotes
“International students contribute significantly to Canada and improve our communities. As a result, we have a responsibility to ensure that they have access to the resources they require for a fulfilling academic experience. In Canada today, this is not always the case. Today, we are announcing additional safeguards to protect a system that has become so profitable that it has created a pathway for its misuse. Enough is enough. The strong actions announced today strike the appropriate balance for Canada, protecting the integrity of our immigration system while preparing students for the success they seek.
– The Honorable Marc Miller, Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship
Quick facts.
- In the coming months, we will continue to work to establish clear avenues to permanent residence for students with in-demand talents, as well as investigate novel approaches to properly transition overseas students into the labor field.
- The department has lately implemented many measures to ensure that the International Student Program works for both incoming students and the country as a whole, including:
- On January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living requirement for study visa applicants was revised to better represent the genuine cost of living in Canada and to assist minimize student vulnerability and exploitation.
- Since December 1, 2023, post-secondary authorized learning institutions have been required to confirm each letter of acceptance that an applicant from outside Canada has submitted directly with IRCC. This strengthened verification process protects prospective students from fraud and ensures that study permits are provided solely based on genuine letters of acceptance.
- In 2024, we plan to launch focused pilot programs to assist underrepresented cohorts of overseas students in pursuing their studies in Canada.
Latest Updates on Canada Study Visas
Conclusion:
These steps, combined with recent revisions to the International Student Program, demonstrate Canada’s commitment to providing genuine students with the resources they require for a fulfilling academic experience. The government hopes to provide a sustainable road forward for international students by striking a balance between preserving the system from exploitation and ensuring student achievement, while also addressing concerns about housing, healthcare, and other important services. As these changes take place, Canada is committed to improving its immigration regulations for the benefit of both students and the country as a whole.
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