According to an Investigative Journalism Foundation report from June 2023, almost 40% of student visa applications from India have been rejected since 2011, citing “other” and “unspecified” reasons
Highlights/ India/ NRI/
A recent analysis by Toronto Star reveals that almost 50% of international students who received offers from Canadian universities have been denied visas, as reported by moneycontrol.com.
Between January 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023, the Immigration Department approved only 54.3% (over 4.70 lakh) out of 8.66 lakh study permit applicants accepted by designated learning institutions (DLIs). DLIs are schools approved by provincial or territorial governments to host international students, including all primary and secondary schools in Canada.
According to an Investigative Journalism Foundation report from June 2023, almost 40% of student visa applications from India have been rejected since 2011, citing “other” and “unspecified” reasons.
Canada currently hosts over 2.20 lakh Indian students, constituting 41% of its total international student intake. The Indian students contribute an estimated total expenditure of $11.7 billion, including $6 billion on academic fees, $3 billion for accommodation, and $2.7 billion on other living necessities, according to the ‘Beyond Beds & Boundaries: Indian Student Mobility Report, 2023.’
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To counter potential fraud, Canada’s Immigration Department has recently implemented measures, including a requirement for DLIs to confirm each applicant’s letter of acceptance directly with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
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Starting from the fall 2024 semester, IRCC plans to adopt a “recognized institution” framework that sets a higher standard for services, support, and outcomes for international students at post-secondary DLIs
The Toronto Star report highlights that reasons for study permit rejections include applicants’ inability to meet financial requirements, concerns about their likelihood to leave the country after the expiration of their status, incomplete applications, missing payments, or the submission of fraudulent documents.
Public colleges generally experience higher rejection rates than public universities, while private institutions face even higher rejection rates, although they constitute less than 10% of overall applications.
The report notes that the rapidly growing international student program has come under scrutiny due to aggressive recruiting campaigns and unregulated foreign agents. Many migrants see studying in Canada as a pathway to work and permanent residence.
To counter potential fraud, Canada’s Immigration Department has recently implemented measures, including a requirement for DLIs to confirm each applicant’s letter of acceptance directly with the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Starting from the fall 2024 semester, IRCC plans to adopt a “recognized institution” framework that sets a higher standard for services, support, and outcomes for international students at post-secondary DLIs.
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