Recent analysis has highlighted a concerning trend within international education circles. Almost half of all international students encountered the disappointment of visa rejections, with an alarming rejection rate of up to 40%. This rate stands as the highest among various countries. More troubling is the fact that students faced rejections without clear or specific reasons, often labelled as ‘others’ or ‘unspecified’, leaving them confused and uninformed about the causes.
India has emerged as a significant contributor, with approximately 320,000 Indian students holding valid study permits in Canada. However, Canada continues to warmly welcome a surge of international students due to the substantially higher tuition fees they pay, which are significantly higher than the domestic fees.
Unfortunately, overseas education recruiters have preyed upon students, falsely portraying studying in Canada as the sole avenue to obtain permanent residency. Suggestions and proposals have emerged, advocating for designated learning institutions to bear responsibility in this regard. These proposals emphasise the need for institutions to directly appoint overseas agents and transparently disclose their personal information.
While the Canadian government recently introduced regulations concerning financial requirements, concerns are highlighted about students resorting to falsifying bank statements to gain entry into the country. A sharp 54.3% of applications faced rejection between January 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023, particularly impacting applications to public universities.
In a recent conference, Marc Miller underscored the important role of provinces in ensuring the selection of deserving visas, with the intent to reinstate integrity in the international student program. This growing trend within the international student programme has gained attention due to aggressive recruitment efforts by the post-secondary education sector and the prevalence of unregulated foreign agents. For many migrants, pursuing education in Canada represents a gateway to employment opportunities and, ultimately, securing permanent residency.
