In a recent announcement, Federal Minister Mark Miller revealed significant changes to immigration policies. A cap has been introduced for the number of international students to be invited, and it’s fixed at 364,000.
Minister Miller says, “International students are vital to Canada and enrich our communities. As such, we must ensure that they have access to the resources they need for an enriching academic experience. In Canada, today, this isn’t always the case. Today, we are announcing additional measures to protect a system that has become so lucrative that it has opened a path for its abuse.”
The cap is seen as a temporary measure aimed at stabilizing the growth in the country. Individual provincial and territorial caps have also been instituted, employing a population-weighted mechanism. This approach anticipates notable reductions, particularly in provinces where the international student population has experienced unsustainable growth.
According to a media release by IRCC, study permit renewals will not be impacted. Those pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees, and elementary and secondary education are not included in the cap. Current study permit holders will not be affected.
To implement the cap, as of January 22, 2024, every study permit application submitted to IRCC will also require an attestation letter from a province or territory. Provinces and territories are expected to establish a process for issuing attestation letters to students by no later than March 31, 2024.
In the weeks ahead, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs. The spouses of international students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible.
There will be changes in eligibility for the Post Graduate Work Permit program. Starting September 1, 2024, international students who begin a study program that is part of a curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer be eligible for a postgraduation work permit upon graduation. Graduates of master’s and other short graduate-level programs will soon be eligible to apply for a 3-year work permit.
In the weeks ahead, open work permits will only be available to spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs. The spouses of international students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible.
“Through the decisive measures announced today, we are striking the right balance for Canada and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system while setting students up for the success they hope for,” says Miller.
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