Canada has introduced fresh regulations for international students seeking to pursue education in the country. As part of these changes, an online portal has been established for Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) to authenticate letters of acceptance (LOAs) provided by international students in support of their visa applications.
As reported by CIC News, DLIs are now required to validate LOAs through the online portal within 10 calendar days under the revised framework. Failure to complete this verification within the stipulated timeframe or confirming the LOA as counterfeit will result in the cancellation of the student visa application, with refunds for the applicant’s fees.
This initiative addresses previous instances of misuse in Canada’s international student systems, including a case involving nearly 700 Indian students who faced potential deportation due to false acceptance letters orchestrated by a fraudulent immigration consultant.
Commencing December 1, 2023, Canada has also introduced a new version of the study permit application form (IMM1294). The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated that this version must be used for study permit applications submitted through the IRCC secure account. Applications using the old version of the form, submitted on or after December 1, 2023, will not be accepted.
In addition to these alterations, the IRCC has proposed the “Trusted Institutions Framework,” presenting a two-tiered system for study permits and offering advantages to trusted institutions, such as expedited processing. Although specifics about the framework are currently limited, its implementation is expected in the fall of 2024.
The year 2024 is poised to bring further adjustments to Canada’s international student program. The IRCC plans to raise the cost-of-living requirement, reassess the 20-hour work cap for international students, discontinue the facilitative measure allowing students to count time spent abroad towards their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), and introduce new modifications to the PGWP program.
The department’s objective is to synchronize international student enrollment and PGWP issuance with labor market and demographic needs, marking a transformative year for Canada’s approach to hosting nearly one million international students.
