Canada has made its immigration rules and visa policies stricter. The aim is to cut down on illegal migration. But this has had an impact on Indian students who want to study abroad, especially in Canada.
Canada’s new Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations started being used on January 31. Students have reported that their permits are being suddenly cancelled. Visa applications are being looked at more closely, and the rules about leaving the country are being enforced more strictly.
After this new ruling, students who plan to study abroad are worried. They are concerned about the end of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program. Also, Canada is now limiting the number of international student permits. Both the students already studying in Canada and those planning to go there are in an uncertain situation because of these changes.
Reports say that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is likely to take away another 7,000 permits this year. This could affect more than 427,000 Indian students. Experts are warning that if a student’s permit is revoked, they may have to leave Canada. The only way out is to appeal the decision, but this comes with a high legal cost. It starts at C$1,500, and there’s no guarantee that the appeal will be successful.
What Changes Were Made to Canada’s Visa Programme?
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has changed Canada’s immigration and refugee protection regulations. This gives the authorities more power to cancel temporary resident documents. These include electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) and temporary resident visas (TRVs).
Under the new rules, Canadian immigration and border officers can revoke study permits, work permits, and other travel permits. They can do this if a person is not eligible, not allowed to enter the country, or can’t convince the officials that they will leave the country when they are supposed to. Even documents that are lost, stolen, or wrongly issued can now be cancelled.
How Will These Rules Affect Indian Students?
It’s said that about 35 to 40 per cent of international students in Canada are from India. So, these new regulations are likely to have a big impact. These changes come after Ottawa recently changed its immigration policies a lot. This includes cancelling the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa programme in late 2024.
Canada is a very popular place for Indian students, workers, and legal migrants. According to government data, more than 420,000 Indian students are currently studying for higher education in Canada.
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