Canada is the dream destinationfor many Indian citizens as it promises great opportunities to students tostudy and to working professionals to work. Due to this every year many Indianstudents move to Canada to pursue higher education so that they can build agood career and have a better life. Not just India, pupils of many countriesget enrolled in Canadian universities every year which has increased the population of theinternational students in Canada over the years leading to a stage where it isbecoming challenging for the Canadian government to manage things efficientlyfor everybody’s benefit. Many institutions have increased the number ofprograms or courses in various fields to enrol the international studentswrongfully to earn more revenue which has caused more harm to the studentsonly. This has made the authorities take some significantly effective measuresto curb the population of the international students in Canada; however, thisdoes not mean that there is any resistance from their side. The government isstill as welcoming as before but is just a little selective. These changes arecurrently for two years starting from 22nd January 2024. There mightbe changes in them for 2025 as the outcome of these new policies will beassessed by the end of the current year.
Let us look at the majorannouncements made recently by the Canadian authorities:
1) Cap as per the province’s populationon the intake of the international students:
To control the number of foreigners studying in Canada thegovernment has limited the number of study permits per province and to keep atrack of this it is now mandatory for these students to obtain the PALcertificate (Provincial Attestation Letter) from the province/territory inaddition to the study permit. This is applicable since 8:30 am 22ndJanuary2024for almost all of the Undergrad or college programs post the secondaryeducation. The IRCC will reject the applications without the PAL for study visaunless there is an exemption on that. The PAL certificate will ensure that the student offered aplace in college or university in a province is well within the limited numberof seats allowed to that province to enroll international students. Currentlythe provinces are working on making the process to issue the PAL to thestudents and this will be done by 31st March 2024. Any students who has obtained the study permit before 8:30 amon 22nd January 2024 or whose application is accepted by the IRCCbefore this time will not have to get the PAL and can continue for the processas before.
Students who are exempted:·
Primary and secondary school students·
Master’s or doctoral degree students·
Existing visiting or exchange students studying at a DLI (designatedlearning institution).
· Existing study permit and work permit holders including theones applying for an extension)
· Existing family members of study permit or work permitholders
· Students whose application was received before 8:30 a.m. ESTon January 22, 2024.
2) Changes Related to PGWP:
· Longer PGWP for the studentscompleting Master’s degree program:
The international students who are studying in the master’sprogram and are willing to apply for the Post Graduation Work Permit to gainnecessary experience and to apply for the PR later, the length of the PGWP willbe 3 years starting from 15th February 2024 if their course is lessthan 2 years. For all the other PGWP eligible places the students studyinga 2 years’ degree program in a DLI will also get the 3 years permit to work. For rest of the PGWP eligible students it will be as pertheir course duration up to maximum 3 years.
· PGWP for Public-Private Institutions:
In Canada there are some of the Public institutions which permitsome of the Private institutions to teach their curriculum to its students. Inthis arrangement the students study in a Private college but get thecertificate or diploma of the Public institution which leads to better jobopportunities to work. Due to this many international students take admissionin such private places but due to insufficient monitoring at such places thestudents do not get good education and support which is must. To discourageinternational students to take admission in such educational institutes theIRCC made some changes in the PGWP for such students. Any new student whoenrolls in Public-Private institutions will not be eligible to get thePost-Graduation Work Permit; however, the existing students will be allowed toget the PGWP.
3) Changes in the Spouse Visa:
The spouse of the international students were allowed to getan open work permit under the Spouse Visa so that they can live together inCanada but this has been limited now. For the next two years the spouse of onlythe students enrolled in Master’s or doctoral programs will be allowed to getthe open work permit to be able to stay with their spouse. For all the othercourses or programs the spouse will not be given the open work permit. These steps are taken to limit the number of internationalstudents across many countries to study in Canada leading to the bettereducational facilities and support to these students who pursue their education inCanada in the hope of a better personal as well as professional livesbecause the government will be able to take care of all the residents equallymaking the experience of studying, working or living in Canada a remarkableone.
It will also control the malpractices related to the internationaleducation and save the students from falling prey to people who provide fakeenrolment letters and enroll students to just make money. The above mentioned changes are not permanent changes and aretherefore subject to change depending upon their results. If you have anydoubts regarding these changes of any other information related to the Canadianstudent visa policies and procedures, you must consult an efficient and reputed Canada studyvisa consultant in Chandigarh like Abroad Gateway so that you havecomplete clarity about what you are expected to do and what is expected out ofyou if you plan to pursue your education in Canada.
https://abroadgateway.com/canada-study-visa-abroad-gateway/
