On October 27, 2023, Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, announced plans to strengthen the International Student Program. From December 1, 2023, learning institutions must confirm each applicant’s acceptance directly with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), preventing acceptance letter fraud and ensuring study permits are issued based on genuine acceptance letters.
For fall 2024, a “recognized institution” framework will be implemented, offering priority study permit processing to institutions providing superior services for international students.
Additionally, IRCC will reform the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program to better align with Canadian labor market needs and immigration goals.
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Details of the Changes in the International Student Program
The Most Honourable Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, announced plans to implement a number of measures aimed at strengthening Canada’s International Student Program and better protecting genuine students from fraud. Among these measures are the following:
- Postsecondary designated learning institutions (DLI) will be required to confirm every applicant’s letter of acceptance directly with IRCC beginning December 1, 2023. This new, enhanced verification process is intended to protect prospective students from letter of acceptance fraud and to assist them in avoiding problems similar to those faced by some students earlier this year as a result of fraud investigations. It will also ensure that only genuine letters of acceptance are used to issue study permits.
- IRCC is going to establish a “recognized institution” framework in time for the fall 2024 semester to benefit post-secondary DLIs that set a higher standard for services, support, and outcomes for international students. These DLIs, for example, will benefit from priority processing of study permits for applicants who intend to attend their school.
- In the coming months, IRCC will complete a review of the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program criteria and begin implementing reforms that will better match it with the needs of the Canadian labor market, as well as regional and Francophone immigration goals.
The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship stated:
“International students are talented, bright, and deserving of a positive experience while studying in Canada.” We will continue to improve Canada’s International Student Program by protecting students and weeding out those who exploit them. We want an international student’s time in Canada to have been beneficial to their growth and aspirations, whether they stay and work after graduation or return home.”
Canada updated the eligibility requirements for Student Direct Stream applications
On August 30, 2023, the Canadian Government updated the eligibility requirements for the Student Direct Stream (SDS) language test results. The new requirements align with the Ministerial Instructions effective August 10, 2023.
The Government will accept additional academic tests from designated organizations and another test from a non-designated organization. Read Complete updated eligibility requirements.
Want to know more details about “IRCC amended the International Student Program to protect international students” you can contact one of our immigration specialists at Gunness & Associates.
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