Canada is a top destination for students due to its high-quality educational institutions, diverse community, and post-graduation opportunities for work or permanent immigration. However, there have been challenges to work on in Canada’s International Student Program.
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, exposed a series of measures to build up the International Student Program’s integrity and protect students from fraud or scams. These measures include:
Starting December 1, 2023, post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLIs) will verify every applicant’s letter of acceptance directly with IRCC. This will help to prevent letter-of-acceptance fraud.
By the fall semester of 2024, IRCC will introduce a “recognized institution” framework for post-secondary DLIs that provide higher standards of services, support, and outcomes for international students. Priority processing of study permits will be granted to applicants planning to attend these institutions.
In the coming months, IRCC will assess and reform the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program to better align with Canada’s labor market needs and regional immigration goals.
These measures address the challenges to the integrity of the International Student Program and counteract unscrupulous groups or individuals who prey on students. Institutions offering strong support for international students will be recognized, and their applicants will receive speed up processing. This ensures that students who best meet Canada’s economic and immigration goals are selected and retained.
These improvements are part of the ongoing review of the International Student Program and align with the broader initiative, An Immigration System for Canada’s Future, which involves collaboration with institutions, provinces, territories, and organizations to detect fraud and uphold program integrity.
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said that International students are talented, bright, and deserve a positive experience in Canada. That’s why they are committed to safeguarding students and preventing exploitation. Whether international students choose to work in Canada after graduation or return home, they’ll aim for their Canadian educational experience to be beneficial to their growth and aspirations
Some good facts:
International education contributes over $22 billion to Canada’s economy annually, supporting more than 200,000 jobs and impacting various key industries.
Investigations into fraudulent admissions letters prompted the formation of an IRCC taskforce, collaborating with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to review affected students’ cases and prevent the removal of genuine students. As of October 12, 2023, 63 out of 103 reviewed cases were identified as genuine students, while 40 were not.