IRCC Announces Limit on Admissions for International Students in Canada

Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has given public notice that it is embedding a temporary limit on the number of foreign students who are allocated study visas. An announcement from Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada indicates that for 2024, the limit is anticipated to lead to about 360,000 authorized study permits, a reduction of 35 percent from 2023.

Again, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is presenting limits for each region and territory in Canada. The division declares the restriction will be weighted by population and will lead to a major reduction in provinces where the foreign student population has observed the most unsustainable expansion. The limits will not affect present study permit holders or study permit continuation and do not have to do with those seeking master’s and doctoral programs.

Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada states that as of January 22, 2024, every study permit request presented to IRCC will need a letter of attestation from a region or territory. Provinces or territories are anticipated to develop a procedure for allocating these letters by 31st March 2024. The division states that it will re-evaluate the limit in 2025.

Modifications to Qualification Measures for Post-graduation Work Permits

Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada has also declared modifications to the qualification measures of the Post Graduation Work Permit. Beginning in September 2024, foreign students beginning a study course that is an aspect of a curriculum certifying arrangement will no longer be qualified for the Post Graduation Work Permit.

Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has clarified that under curriculum certifying agreements, students naturally attend a private institution certified to educate the curriculum of a related public college. Even though these courses have enticed foreign students in the current years, they need more supervision than public institutions. They are a loophole to qualification for the Post Graduation Work Permit.

IRCC has also declared that foreign students who have concluded their courses masters and other short graduate-level courses will be fit to make an application for a three-year work permit. Under the present measures, the duration of a post-graduation work permit is according to the duration of the person’s study program. These measures materially restrict master students as they lower the period they are qualified to obtain Canadian work skills and finally transition to PR.

In the coming weeks, the division will also release additional information concerning open work permits for the spouses of foreign students. Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada states that open work permits will only be obtainable for spouses of foreign students in Master’s and doctoral courses. The spouses of foreign students in other study levels, including undergraduate and college courses, will no longer be qualified.

Difficulties to System Probity

The criteria were largely expected as Immigration Minister Marc Miller started publicly discussing the feasibility in the summer of 2023 and again in a release in December.

The minister stated that before the September 2024 semester, they are ready to obtain applicable standards, which include restricting visas, to ensure that assigned learning institutions offer accurate and enough student assistance as an aspect of the educational skills. In an interview with CTV news last week, he went further to say that he would declare standards concerning temporary residents, specifically foreign students, in the first quarter of 2024.

There has been developing pressure on Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to react concerning the number of foreign students in Canada. The Minister had stated that the extent of students poses a difficulty to the probity of the system. In the interview on CTV, he said some schools have individuals from outside the nation making payments of a premium dollar and not obtaining the education they were told.

The most recent IRCC release states that some schools have majorly elevated their admissions to drive incomes, and more students have been landing in Canada without the adequate assistance they require to prevail. It notes that the quick growth of foreign students landing in Canada also places pressure on accommodation, health care, and other services.

Foreign Students in Canada

In 2022, Canada accepted more than 800,000 foreign students, and the minister projected that in 2023, the number would increase to more than 900,000. The minister told CTVs that the structure was uncontrollable and that Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada has been working to get their own house in order nationally.

Also, he voiced worries concerning a permissive designated learning institution framework within the regions and stated that regional administrations are required to have strong discussions with their designated learning institutions. Designated learning institutions are the only post-secondary colleges in Canada authorized to accept foreign students. There are over 1,000 designated learning institutions in Canada, with 529 in Ontario.

In December, IRCC carried out other modifications to the foreign student course, including doubling the living conditions expense for foreign students from 10,000 to $20,635. The division stated that this would assist foreign students in adequately getting ready for the real cost of living in Canada. Again, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is anticipated to execute a trusted structure agreement with designated learning institutions early for the 2024 educational season. Qualified designated learning institutions will gain from expedited processing for study permits.