January 28th, 2024 at 05:06 am
IRCC Introduces Changes to Protect International Students in Canada
Many overseas students aspire to study in Canada because of the country’s prestigious universities. Despite the enticing chances provided by Canada’s high-quality education system, international students have faced difficulties on their path.
In light of this, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, has announced a number of measures. These measures aim to strengthen Canada’s International Student Program and protect students from fraud.
IRCC Will Protect International Students in Canada
Post-secondary DLIs must immediately validate applicants’ acceptance letters with IRCC starting December 1, 2023. This proactive verification method ensures that study permits are provided only to valid acceptance letters to counteract letter-of-acceptance fraud. This solution addresses past student concerns caused by false investigations and seeks to prevent future ones.
Looking ahead to the fall 2024 semester, IRCC plans to implement a “recognized institution framework” that will prioritize study permit processing for post-secondary Designated Learning Institutions. This system seeks to reward colleges that prioritize the welfare of their international students.
In the coming months, IRCC intends to conduct a full examination of the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program criteria, adopting revisions that are consistent with the needs of the Canadian labour market and Francophone immigration goals.
Maintaining the Integrity of Canada’s International Student Program
Recognizing foreign students’ significant contributions to Canada’s social, cultural, and economic fabric, these measures are a deliberate reaction to threats to the foreign student program’s integrity. By quickly recognizing bogus letters of admission, the aim is to prevent fraud advisors from profiting at the expense of legitimate students.
Institutions that demonstrate strong support for international students will be recognized, and their applications will be prioritized for processing. This focused approach seeks to identify and retain students who are compatible with Canada’s economic and immigration objectives.
These significant revisions are the first to emerge from the continuing review of the International Student Program and the broader engagement program, “An Immigration System for Canada’s Future.” Collaboration among institutions, provinces, territories, and organizations that represent Canada’s educational landscape is an important element of this initiative.
Minister Marc Miller stated, “International students are intelligent, bright, and deserve a great experience in Canada. We will continue to strengthen Canada’s International Student Program by safeguarding students and removing those who try to exploit them.”
Interesting Facts: International Education in Canada
- International education generates more than $22 billion in revenue for the Canadian economy each year, sustaining over 200,000 jobs.
- The short reduction of international students in 2020 resulted in a $7 billion loss to Canada’s GDP.
- Ministries of education in Canada’s ten provinces and three territories are in charge of overseeing the organization, delivery, and assessment of education.
- An IRCC task group worked with the CBSA to investigate cases of students affected by bogus acceptance letters, finding legitimate cases and preventing their removal.
A Brighter Future for International Students in 2024.
As these improvements take effect, the future of international students in Canada appears more promising and safe. The resolve to strengthen the International Student Program demonstrates a genuine commitment to provide a good and enriching experience for all international students in Canada.
Revised requirements to better protect international students
Under the new structure, DLIs will be required to authenticate the LOAs that students submit via an online portal that will only be accessible to their IRCC representative(s). Schools will now have up to ten calendar days to confirm letters of acceptance. If a DLI fails to confirm the LOA within that time frame (or if the letter is validated as fraudulent), the student visa application will be cancelled and returned to the applicant (together with any processing expenses).
DLIs will no longer be able to validate LOAs after the verification deadline has passed.
These new changes come in the wake of numerous previous abuses of Canada’s international student systems, including a high-profile case last year involving the near-deportation of 700 Indian students who were duped into coming to Canada based on false acceptance letters forged by a fraudulent immigration consultant.
The government’s website provides more information on the new measures required by DLIs to authenticate LOAs.
The Trustworthy Institutions Framework
This year, IRCC also proposed a new framework for DLIs known as the “Trusted Institutions Framework.” Part of this new strategy is to implement a two-tiered system for issuing study permits, similar to the one described above.
Furthermore, the trustworthy institutions selected under this framework will benefit from this designation in a variety of ways, including speedier study permit processing.
While nothing is known about how this framework would work, the IRCC plans to implement it in the fall of 2024. IRCC has repeatedly stated this year that preserving the integrity of the international student program is a top priority. The department has suggested that it may explore limiting the number of student visas to guarantee that DLIs can adequately support overseas students’ academic experiences.
Further changes in 2024
Canada’s international student program is slated to undergo significant changes in 2024.
Specifically in 2024, IRCC will:
- Increase the cost-of-living requirement for students by $10,000 CAD.
- Reconsider the 20-hour work cap for international students.
- End the facilitative policy that allows international students to count time spent abroad against their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP); and
- Make new adjustments to the PGWP program.
Furthermore, the administration has said that it intends to better align foreign student enrollment and PGWP issuance with labor market and demographic needs. Overall, 2024 is projected to bring significant change as Canada prepares to house roughly one million overseas students in the ensuing year.
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