Canada stops processing foreign student visas quickly.
Ottawa has announced the immediate suspension of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program, which would have an impact on overseas students applying to study in Canada.
The SDS program, which was started in 2018, was designed to “provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students.” According to a statement released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on Friday, it has now expanded to accept applications from 14 countries, including India.
Canada has decided to close SDS as of November 8 in order to “strengthen program integrity, address student vulnerability, and ensure equal and fair access for all applicants,” according to the IRCC. In the past, SDS made it possible for competent applicants to receive study permits more quickly and with better approval rates.
Applications will now be handled through the usual pipeline. The SDS program, which first served students from China and India before expanding to other nations, provided a streamlined evaluation process for those who met financial and language requirements in addition to a letter of acceptance from a Canadian university, according to Naresh Chavda, president of Globayan Immigration Corporation.
Permits under SDS had a 95% approval rate and were completed in four weeks, which is half the time required in the usual stream. “They have shut down a program that was intended to draw students, which is probably going to restrict the number of international students they can accept,” Chavda said.
The choice can affect students’ interest in Canada and cause them to choose other countries instead. In the meantime, the IRCC set a goal for study permits in 2025 of 437,000, which is lower than the 485,000 in 2024 and will remain stable in 2026.
Since late last year, the IRCC has been putting changes pertaining to international students into effect. It was stated on December 7 that new applicants for study permits starting in January 2024 will need to provide financial proof of CA$20,635, instead of CA$10,000.
Additionally, starting in December 2023, each applicant’s acceptance letter must be verified by designated learning institutions (DLIs) using IRCC.
Content writer, educationist, teacher, researcher, social media manager, and a SEO manager from lahore. She has been working as a freelance academic and non-academic writer for more than 20 years now. She has a passion to learn new things and has a knack for writing and she combines both things to produce write ups she pours her heart out in.