From GBE CEO, Abel Pagaling:
Hello all,
The dust has somewhat settled from the IRCC’s sudden changes to the International Student program.
I have to admit, I somewhat anticipated these changes given the overwhelming popularity of the program.
The International Student program really is one of the best pathways to come to Canada, and it still is the best in my view even with the current changes.
The changes by IRCC are intended to benefit international students, ensuring the quality of their educational opportunities, and should have positive long-term effects for those students who do come to Canada and find success here.
It’s very important now, more than ever, for potential students to work with an experienced team such as ours in GBE given the additional complexity brought about by these recent changes.
Having said this, here’s an overall summary of the IRCC changes. If you have questions, reach out to your GBE advisor, or email info@globalbridge-edu.com.
You can also book a one-on-one consultation if you require further assistance.
Canada Temporarily Caps Study Permits by 35%
On January 22, 2024, the Canadian government announced a temporary two-year cap on Canadian study permits. This study permit cap means the number of approved study permits (also sometimes referred to as Canada student visas) in 2024 will be limited to around 360,000, to be allocated by province.
Master’s, PhD, and K-12 students, current study permit holders, and those looking to extend their studies are fully exempt from this cap, meaning this will primarily affect those seeking an undergraduate or college education in Canada.
The news from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is a significant shift in policy from the previous decade and is meant to help stabilize regional population growth, helping to ensure the success and well-being of all current and future international students in Canada.
Canada Student Visas Now Require an Attestation Letter
As of January 22, 2024, affected students must provide a provincial attestation letter as part of their study permit application. Applications missing an attestation letter will be returned to the applicant.
Each province is expected to set an attestation letter process by March 31. Currently, only Quebec has a process in place. More details on this are expected to emerge as provinces define their plans for issuing attestation letters.
Provinces like British Columbia also plan to update their recruitment quality standards in the coming weeks to align with federal mandates.
The Study Permit Cap Will Affect Each Province Differently
Study permits will be allocated based on each province’s population.
As per the IRCC press release: “In the spirit of fairness, individual provincial and territorial caps have been established, weighted by population, which will result in much more significant decreases in provinces where the international student population has seen the most unsustainable growth.”
This means that applying to diverse locations within Canada will be more important than ever before. The cap is more likely to affect students heading to Ontario, British Columbia, or Nova Scotia.
At the end of 2024, IRCC will re-assess the cap and define the number of new study permit applications to be accepted in 2025. We will continue to follow and report on the latest Canada student visa news as it develops.
The PGWP Rules Have Changed
Starting September 1, 2024, international students who begin a study program that is part of a curriculum licensing arrangement (public-private partnership) will no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) upon graduation. As part of these curriculum licensing arrangements, private colleges are engaged and licensed to teach the curriculum of an associated public institution.
Students who hope to work in Canada after graduating should pay close attention to these new PGWP qualification rules.
However, there is good news for certain students too: graduates of master’s and other short graduate-level programs will soon be eligible to apply for a 3-year work permit. More details on this are expected to be released soon, but this change will ensure that graduate students applying for PGWPs are not penalized by a short program length.
Spousal Work Permits Will Be Limited
Starting soon, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs, as well as professional programs such as medicine and law.
Undergraduate and college students who are planning to bring spouses or dependants to Canada should be aware of this change, as their partners will no longer be eligible to work once this rule comes into effect.
(Source: Applyboard.com)
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These changes are significant and will have a considerable effect on the movement of international students to Canada. We will continue to post updates and findings as these new policies take effect and more Canada student visa news is shared by IRCC.
To get the latest IRCC news and updates visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news.html
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