CHANDIGARH: Amid diplomatic tensions with India, the Canadian government has maintained that a growing number of international students are claiming asylum in Canada and that the licensed immigration consultants are unethically advising students to claim asylum. This has resulted in some students providing “false” information.
The Canadian Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller has written to the president and chief executive officer of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants highlighting the current trend.
In a letter to John Murray, president and CEO of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, Miller wrote, “I am concerned by reports that some of these students are being counseled by third parties to provide false information. Canada is dedicated to aiding individuals in need of protection. However, counseling asylum seekers to misrepresent themselves to remain in Canada would be contrary to the objectives of Canada’s immigration system.”
As per the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the country welcomed 6,82,060 international students of which Indians were the largest, with 40.7% of 2,78,250 study permits issued in 2023. In 2022, as many as 5,51,405 international students reached Canada of which 2,26,450 (41%) were from India. Now nearly 6 lakh students are on study permit in Canada.
Meanwhile, visa agents are seeing an uptick in Indian students going to Europe and Australia against the backdrop of the changes in Canada’s visa regime that no longer appears as welcoming as before.
Study permits
Canada received 6.82 lakh international students, of which India formed the largest number, comprising 40.7% of the 2.78 lakh study permits issued in 2023
In 2022, 5.51 lakh new international students reached Canada, of which 2.26 lakh (41%) were from India
About 6 lakh students are on study permit in Canada now