In response to an escalating housing crisis, Canada has officially announced a two-year cap on new international student visas. Immigration Minister Marc Miller revealed that the cap aims to maintain a sustainable level of temporary residence in the country, with a national application intake limit set for two years starting in 2024. The move is expected to significantly affect Indians planning to pursue higher education in Canada, where nearly 3.2 lakh Indians are already residing under student visas.
Details:
- Reduction in New Visas: The data provided by Minister Marc Miller indicates that there will be a 35% reduction in new student visas for the year 2024. This translates to 364,000 new permits approved, down from around 560,000 issued in the previous year.
- Impact on Indian Students: With more than 800,000 international students granted temporary study visas in 2022, and 40% of those admitted to Canadian institutions being from India, the move is expected to have a substantial impact on Indian students aspiring to study in Canada.
- Provincial Allocation: Provinces and territories will have the authority to decide how permits are distributed among universities and colleges within their jurisdictions. Minister Miller mentioned that some regions may experience up to a 50% reduction in permits.
- Attestation Letter Requirement: The federal government will now require international students applying for a permit to provide an attestation letter from a province or territory, adding an additional step to the application process.
- Reassessment in 2025: The number of permits to be issued in 2025 will be reassessed at the end of 2024, allowing for potential adjustments based on the evolving situation.
This decision comes amid mounting pressure on the Canadian government to address the increasing numbers of non-permanent residents entering the country. The housing crisis, coupled with concerns about sustainable levels of temporary residence, has prompted these measures to control the influx of international students.
