In a bid to prevent the increased number of international students misusing their permits to live and study in Canada, the country’s federal government has decided to stop processing study permits for universities and colleges that fail to track international student enrollment.
Under the proposed regulations, colleges and universities can report to the federal Immigration Department whether a student is attending school and complying with all study permit requirements, VisaGuide.World reports.
As part of this initiative, the Canadian government has added four additional hours of work for international students, an increase from the previous 20 hours to 24, to help them manage the rising living costs. At the same time, students who want to change schools must also apply for a new study permit even before the start date of the new study program.
Canada to Introduce Stricter Enrollment Monitoring on International Students
Since Federal officials in Canada have struggled to monitor students after they arrive, all designated learning institutions (DLIs) in the country will help monitor and report their international students’ enrollment status.
Institutions that do not comply with the conditions will have the processing of new study permits suspended for up to 12 months. This ensures real accountability and participation.
In addition, institutions must also confirm the authenticity of each student’s admission letter with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to prevent fraudulent admissions. IRCC random checks require institutions to confirm a student’s admission and registration within ten days.
As a result, non-compliant institutions will be publicly listed and face suspension from accepting international students. Students should verify the compatibility of their chosen institution before applying for a study permit.
Such changes are projected to cost about $87 million in present value over ten years, covering government enforcement, costs for designated learning institutions, and expenses for study permit holders who wish to change schools.
About 1 Million Study Permit Holders Were Registered in Canada Last Year, Highest Figure Since 2015
Last year, Canada welcomed over one million study permit holders, significantly increasing from 352,305 in 2015. The same year was ranked as one of the years that recorded the largest number of international students, with over one million primary, secondary and post-secondary study permit holders — an increase of 151 percent.
In January of this year, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that Canada would limit international student visas for two years. Miller stated that private institutions have “taken advantage of international students by operating under-resourced campuses, lacking support for students in high tuition fees, all while significantly increasing the intake of international students.”