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Updated details on the Canadian International Student Program
Canada ranks highly as a major destination for international scholars due to its excellent educational facilities, inclusive and multicultural environment and prospects for post-graduation employment or permanent residence. Despite the substantial contribution of international students to campus life nationwide, they face considerable challenges within the Canadian international student program.
Today, the Honorable Marc Miller, Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening the Canadian International Student Program and protecting legitimate students from deceptive practices. These initiatives include:
- • Commencing December 1, 2023, post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLIs) must verify each student's acceptance letter directly with IRCC. This updated verification method is designed to protect future students from acceptance letter fraud, helping to prevent some of the problems that may arise at the beginning of the year due to fraud investigations. Furthermore, it guarantees that study permits are granted solely on the basis of authentic letters of approval.
- • By the start of the Autumn 2024 term, IRCC will introduce an “recognized institution” framework, which will reward post-secondary DLIs that maintain superior standards in services, support and outcomes for international students. In return, these DLIs will receive expedited processing of study permit applications from students wishing to enroll in their programs.
- • In the coming months, IRCC will finalize an evaluation of the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program's criteria and begin reforming it to better align it with Canadian labor market demands and regional and francophone immigration objectives.
While acknowledging the important social, cultural and economic contributions of international students to Canada, it is imperative to address issues of integrity within the international student program. These initiatives represent a proactive approach against malicious entities exploiting sincere students for financial gain, swiftly identifying false letters of acceptance post-submission. Institutions that demonstrate strong support for international scholars will receive recognition, with their applicants given priority for processing.
Consequently, this will enhance our ability to select and retain students who align with Canada’s economic and immigration aspirations. These significant reforms indicate initial changes resulting from the International Student Program Review and the Broader Engagement Initiative, An Immigration System for Canada's Future. This includes our continued collaboration with institutions, provinces and territories, and organizations representing Canadian colleges and universities to detect fraud and maintain the integrity of our immigration programs.
IRCC Minister Marc Miller said
Fast Facts
- • International education generates more than $22 billion in annual economic activity, outpacing Canada's exports of auto parts, lumber and aircraft, and sustaining more than 200,000 jobs within the country. The decline in international student numbers in 2020 resulted in an economic shock of more than $7 billion to Canada's GDP that year.
- • In Canada, ministries of education in 10 provinces and 3 territories are tasked with overseeing the organization, delivery, and evaluation of educational services.
- • In June, subsequent to probes into counterfeit admission letters, a taskforce under IRCC was established, collaborating with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to scrutinize the situations of impacted students and graduates, aiming to prevent the wrongful expulsion of legitimate students from Canada.
- • Out of 103 cases evaluated by October 12, 2023, 63 were deemed genuine students, while 40 were not.
