In recent times Canada happens to be one of the most visited countries for by international students, however, there’s been recent changes to Canada Immigration policies.
Through the IRCC changes have been made to Canada’s immigration policies in a bid to regulate the influx of migrants and ensure the nation’s reputation is maintained.
In this article we’ll discuss the recent immigration policies implemented by Honorable Marc Miller.
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Latest Canada Immigration Policies Vital to International Students
The following are the revised policies which took effect from December 2023;
1. Limited student visas
This is one of the measures implemented to limit the issuance of Canadian visa, this is done in a bid to prevent overcrowding and also enable DLI’s provide optimum and adequate support to students.
A key feature of DLI’s is their small-scale classroom which offers personalized and intimate learning experience. Minister Marc Miller opines that a limited number of international students would enable DLI’s best serve existing international students while also offering the best support to intending or newly admitted international students.
2. Increased work hours
A staple benefit of being in Canada as an international student is the opportunity to work off-campus while school is in session. A lot of students benefit from this opportunity as it enables them build a community, earn an income which reduces dependency and also helps cover related costs.
It is also beneficial as students are able to gain relevant work experience in respective fields. Eligible applicants are allowed to work up to 20hrs/week however, the recent changes made would grant international students work up to 30 hours/ week while school is in session.
3. Increase in proof of funds
According to Minister Marc Miller, from January 1st 2024 a single applicant proof of funds would be $20,635 CAD which is a significant increase from what it used to be. This would be in addition to the applicant’s first year tuition as well as travel costs.
Minister Miller opines that this is to ensure that international students and prospective immigrants are financially prepared for life in Canada, owing to the fact that over-time, many international students and prospective immigrants have experienced challenges particularly in areas such as housing. He believes that this recent change in policy would better prepare anyone intending to enter the country.
4. Updated online study time
During the COVID pandemic, a new learning platform was initiated by the Canadian Government as a result of travel bans and restrictions to combat and limit the spread of the virus. Measures were put in place granting international students the opportunity to study online at DLI’s with the opportunity to acquire post-graduate work permit.
The online learning platform was programmed in such a way that students learning hours can be timed and counted and this is targeted towards achieving the required study hours which would quality eligible international students for the post-graduate work permit.
The new policy sets down new measures to count student’s online learning hours towards post-graduation work permits, this continues for existing students and all those who are starting programs before September 1st 2024.
5. Approval of work permit extension
Minister Miller has revised the work permit extension policy and has made it known that current PGWP holders with an expiration date of December 31st 2023 are eligible to request the 18-month work permit extension. However, individuals with PGWP with expiration date beyond the specified date will not be eligible for the extension.
6. Release of new study permit application form
As at December 1st 2023, latest version of the study permit form for applications made outside Canada was released and is known as IMM 1294 E.
In addition to this refinement, DLI’s are required to verify applicant’s acceptance letter with the IRCC, this is in a bid to curb fraudulent admission activities. Based on the authenticity of acceptance letters, study permits can then be issued to applicants.
Challenges of The New Policies
One of the primary challenges as regards the new policies revolves around the inability to extend the Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). As the new policies restrict the extension of PGWPs, international students may face challenges in securing additional work experience after graduation, more-so immigrants who are unable to secure residency risk the chance of returning back home.
This restriction may hinder the career progression of international students and limit their ability to contribute significantly to the Canadian workforce. With the restriction on PGWP extension, there are concerns about the complexities international students may face in transitioning from study to work.
Navigating the job market and securing employment without the flexibility of an extended PGWP may pose challenges for those seeking to establish themselves in Canada post-graduation.
More-so the modification of the requirements for proof of funds, pose as a major challenge for international students. While these measures are implemented with the intention of ensuring responsible immigration practices, they also present a set of challenges that impact prospective students.
Higher proof of funds requirement mean that students need to demonstrate a more substantial financial capacity, potentially deterring some from pursuing their educational aspirations in Canada.
While the intent behind this policy modification is to ensure that prospective students and immigrants are more financially prepared for the journey ahead, it goes without a doubt that these measures potentially foster challenges that affect the accessibility and diversity of international education.
