Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, disclosed in recent comments to the Globe and Mail that the IRCC has approved approximately 292000 study permits for college and undergraduate international students this year.
A comprehensive intake cap for study permit applications was put into place by IRCC on January 22. This cap places a cap on the number of students whose applications will be accepted this year, about 360,000. The goal is to gradually decrease the number of approved study permits by 35% over a two-year period. This aims to tackle the challenge of “unsustainable growth” in Canada’s international student program. As part of these regulatory adjustments, the IRCC has expressed a commitment to enhancing the system’s integrity.
IRCC Clarifies Study Permit Limits and Commitment to System Integrity
Following a recent investigation by The Globe and Mail, it was discovered that cap-exempt study permits were included in the initial estimate for newly authorized research permits by the IRCC in 2024. As a result, the revised total for study permits for undergraduate and college students this year is now 292,000.
Notably, Marc Miller is not legally able to limit the quantity of visas that are issued. His power is mainly restricted to managing the volume of applications that are processed. Miller revealed in a recent meeting that even though the calculations produce a sizable number of visas. The IRCC decides whether to approve or deny applications at its level. Applications are only accepted up to a predetermined amount, and they are distributed across Canada in accordance with population.
Moreover, Miller’s order to establish a cap on the number of study permit applications processed did not apply to undergraduate, graduate, or elementary school programs at universities. With an average approval rate of 60%, the fixed number of permits was established at 606,250. This anticipated figure reflects the expectation that nearly 360,000 study permits will be approved this year based on the provided calculations.
This contradicts the information presented by the Globe and Mail. It indicating that the IRCC has opted to issue only 292,000 additional permits for undergraduate and college students. The reported figure significantly differs from the initially projected number. Furthermore, at the time, the department did not disclose the processing restriction, particularly for students exempt from it, such as master’s, primary, and high school students. This lack of information left certain categories of students unaware of the specific processing limitations in place.
Canada’s Approach to Implementing Study Permit Caps
Provincial governments are in charge of putting the IRCC-imposed research permit cap into effect. Under this method, the provinces are responsible for providing International Students with Provincial Attestation Letters allowing them to enroll in courses at a DLI under their control. PALs serve as formal documentation for the IRCC, confirming that the accepted student is authorized by the respective territory or province where their educational institution is located. Additionally, the PAL attests that the student is actively contributing to the province’s allocated study permit quota. This ensures transparency and compliance with the established study permit regulations.
It’s crucial to remember that DLIs are the only Canadian universities authorized to accept foreign students. In accordance with ministerial directives, PALs need to be officially prepared and signed by the province or territory government and include all pertinent applicant information such as Full name, DOB, and Address.
Under the revised system, prospective study permit candidates must now submit a Provincial Attestation Letter along with a LOA when applying for their study permit with IRCC. This updated requirement ensures compliance with the new application process. This dual documentation is now required, as opposed to the prior requirement of just the LOA. The population of each province and territory will be taken into consideration while allocating resources.
As of right now, the only provinces with operational PAL delivery networks are British Columbia and Alberta. Upon meeting all qualifying requirements, students in both provinces will receive PALs from their DLI. Subsequently, these PALs must be submitted to the respective provincial government for further processing.
The federal government has mandated that provincial governments must establish their PAL delivery systems by March 31, 2024.
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