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Data from IRCC shows that asylum claims by international students in 2024 have already surpassed the 12,000 claims recorded in 2023 and are on track to exceed previous years significantly
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Comparatively, only 1,810 claims were made in 2018. This trend has raised alarms within the Canadian government, which remains committed to supporting individuals in genuine need of protection while safeguarding the integrity of its immigration policies
Canada’s immigration system is facing scrutiny as an increasing number of international students file asylum claims shortly after arriving in the country, reported indianexpress.com.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller recently highlighted this trend, expressing concerns over students being advised to misuse the asylum process.
In a letter addressed to John Murray, President and CEO of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), Miller stated that advising students to misrepresent their status to gain permanent residency undermines the objectives of Canada’s immigration policies. This letter, posted on social media platform X, emphasized that such practices compromise the integrity of the immigration system.
“Some students appear to have been advised to file asylum claims soon after their arrival in Canada.”
— Immigration Minister Marc Miller
Between January and September 2024, nearly 14,000 international students in Canada filed asylum claims, a significant jump from the 13,000 claims recorded by the end of August. This surge coincides with recent government-imposed restrictions and caps on international students. Despite the declining number of new study permits issued, asylum claims have reached record levels, with students from India, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of Congo leading the numbers.
India, the largest source of foreign students in Canada, accounted for approximately 427,000 students in 2023. Minister Miller attributed the rising asylum claims partly to unscrupulous immigration consultants. Anecdotal evidence from the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) department suggests that external advice is driving these claims, as the conditions in source countries have not significantly changed.
“Some students appear to have been advised to file asylum claims soon after their arrival in Canada,” Miller noted. Many of these claims are filed within the first year, allegedly to exploit benefits like reduced tuition fees for domestic students. He has urged the CICC to investigate and address the role of licensed consultants in this issue.
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