For a while now, international students have been a valuable part of Canada’s university and college communities. They bring diversity and fresh perspectives, making our campuses more vibrant. But, they’ve also had some tough times dealing with Canada’s International Student Program.

Good news, though! On October 27, 2023, Honourable Sean Fraser, the Minister of IRCC, shared some exciting plans. These plans will make the International Student Program in Canada even better. So, our international students will have a smoother journey in the future!

Important News for International Students in Canada

1. Protecting International Students

Starting from December 1, 2023, Canadian colleges and universities, which are called Designated Learning Institutes (DLIs), will have to double-check every acceptance letter they send to international students. They will do this by contacting the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) directly. This new system is in place to prevent fake acceptance letters and to make sure that every student applying for a Canada Study Visa has a real acceptance letter.

2. New Rules for 2024

For the fall 2024 semester, the IRCC is coming up with a system to recognize certain institutions as top-notch. These are the colleges and universities that provide the best services, support, and results for international students. If your school is recognized, it might mean faster processing for your Canada Study Visa application.

3. Changes to Work Permit Program

The IRCC is going to review the rules for the Post-Graduate Work Permit Program (PGWP) in the next few months. They want to make sure the PGWP fits the needs of the job market in Canada and supports immigration goals in different regions and for French-speaking immigrants.

4. More Study Visas

In the first half of 2023 (from January to June), Canada issued over 280,000 new study visas. This is a 77% increase compared to the same time in 2022. It shows that more international students are choosing Canada for their education.

5. Recognizing the Value of International Students

The IRCC understands that international students contribute to Canada in many ways – socially, culturally, and economically. To continue benefiting from this, the IRCC is making these changes to make sure the International Student Program stays strong and honest.

News source: CCtimes