Canada implements two-year limit on student visas

Montreal, January 22: Immigration Minister Marc Miller has announced a two-year cap on student visas in an effort to mitigate the impact of international students on housing and address concerns related to institutional practices. This move, reported by CBC News, Canada's publicly owned news service, aims to curb the number of student visas granted and target institutions exhibiting undesirable practices.

For the year 2024, the federal government is setting a goal of approving 360,000 undergraduate study permits, marking a 35% reduction from the figures in 2023. This decision is anticipated to significantly affect Indian students, who constitute the largest group of international students in Canada, accounting for over 41% of permits in 2022. According to CBC News, more than 300,000 Indian students went to Canada in 2023.

Under the new system, provinces and territories will be allocated a share of the total permits based on population, leading to substantial decreases in regions where international student population growth has been deemed unsustainable. Each region will have the autonomy to decide how permits are distributed across universities and colleges. The cap will remain in effect for two years, with a reassessment planned for 2025.

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Minister Miller expressed concerns about certain private institutions taking advantage of international students, citing issues such as under-resourced campuses, lack of student support, high tuition fees, and a significant increase in international student intake. Miller stated, "It's unacceptable that some private institutions have taken advantage of international students by operating under-resourced campuses, lacking supports for students and charging high tuition fees all the while significantly increasing their intake of international students."

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In addition to the cap, the federal government will now require international students to provide an attestation letter from a province or territory when applying for a permit, as reported by CBC. Miller clarified that these measures are not targeted against individual international students but are aimed at ensuring a quality education experience for future students arriving in Canada.

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Changes to the post-graduation work permit program were also announced, with international students in programs under a curriculum licensing arrangement no longer eligible for a post-graduation work permit starting in September. Graduates of master's and other "short graduate-level programs" will now have the opportunity to apply for a three-year work permit. Open work permits will be restricted to spouses of international students in master's and doctoral programs. These measures align with Miller's previous announcements targeting what he referred to as "the diploma equivalent of puppy mills," according to CBC News.

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(Inputs from agencies)

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