Canada is a popular choice for international students due to its top-notch educational facilities, multicultural society, and chances for employment or permanent immigration after completing graduation. However, international students have encountered significant difficulties when utilizing Canada’s International Student Program, especially letter-of-acceptance fraud.
Recently, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, (IRCC) Canada announced plans to put in place a number of measures designed to improve protection against fraud for genuine students and to strengthen Canada’s International Student Program.
Letter of Acceptance
Commencing on December 1, 2023, post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLI) will verify each applicant’s letter of acceptance with IRCC directly. With the help of this improved verification process, prospective students will be protected from the dangers of letter-of-acceptance fraud and should not experience the same issues that some students did earlier this year as a result of fraud investigations. Additionally, it will guarantee that only genuine letters of acceptance will be used to grant study permits.
For the purpose of studying in Canada, international students must obtain acceptance letters from accredited post-secondary institutions in order to be eligible for a student permit. Recently, after the Canadian government discovered that the Letters of Admission (LOAs) 700 Indian students used to enter the country were fake, they could be deported.
An IRCC taskforce was established in June in response to inquiries into false admissions letters. The taskforce will collaborate with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to examine the records of impacted graduates and students. This work aimed to shield legitimate students from deportation from Canada.
By October 12, 2023, 63 of the 103 cases that had been examined had been determined to be real students, while 40 had not.
Recognized Institution
A ‘recognized institution’ framework will be adopted by IRCC in time for the autumn 2024 semester, which will help post-secondary DLIs meet higher standards for international students’ outcomes, services, and support. For instance, these DLIs will profit from the expedited processing of study permits for those who intend to enroll in their institution.
Post-Graduation Work Permit
In the coming months, IRCC will complete an assessment of Post-Graduation Work Permit Program criteria. Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows international students to extend their stay in Canada for up to three years after graduation.
Through the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program, graduates of eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) may apply for an open work permit in order to gain practical Canadian work experience.
Through the Canadian experience class of Express Entry, PGWP graduates who have acquired skilled work experience in Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0, 1, 2, or 3 may be eligible for permanent residence in Canada.