Indian Students Studying in Canada Fret Over Visa Scrutiny

A recent crackdown by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has created widespread panic among Indian students studying in Canada, many of whom hold visas with up to two years of validity.

Some Indian students in Canada have received emails asking them to resubmit documents that are crucial to their studies, such as study permits, visas, and academic records (including attendance and grades).

This is in response to the Canadian government’s recent policy changes, which include more stringent financial conditions and the possibility of admittance caps to control the flood of overseas students.

Receiving the email caught me off guard. Avinash Kaushik, a postgraduate student from Hyderabad studying in Surrey, British Columbia, expressed his frustration.

“They asked me to submit all my documents again, even though my visa is valid until 2026.” “They even want proof of attendance, marks, where we are working part-time, etc.,” according to him.

Students in India also noticed a spike in these types of communications last week. For some, the next step was to physically attend an office of Citizenship, Immigration, and Refugees Canada to have their documents checked.

Indian students in Canada have reported receiving requests for new documents.

Many of the 4.2 million international students studying in Canada come from India, which has seen a dramatic increase in the number of international students enrolling in Canadian universities in recent years.

The unexpected deluge of emails has allegedly filled students from India with anxiety about their futures. “We chose Canada for its welcoming environment, but this feels unfair,” expressed Manisha Patel, a business management student from Adilabad, India.

He said: “I am already struggling to find an internship, which is mandatory in our final year. It feels like they do not want us here anymore.”

Many Indian students are urging IRCC to communicate clearly and address their concerns. In the meantime, immigration experts have advised Indian students to act promptly on document submissions to avoid potential issues.

Canadian Indian immigration expert Mehbub Rajwani speculated that “this move appears to be part of Canada’s broader strategy to control the number of international students.” There is a definite signal from the introduction of caps and financial restrictions.

He also mentioned that this adjustment could be an attempt to weed out illegitimate students since many of them transfer to schools without attendance restrictions so they can work in Canada.

If students do not promptly respond to these enquiries, consequences, such as visa cancellations, may arise. He emphasized the importance of pupils remaining cool and properly following the directions provided in the emails.

According to a November article in the Globe and Mail, the Canadian government’s immigration, refugee, and citizenship office found more than 10,000 fake admission letters for students in 2024.

As a result, verification procedures for applications from overseas students were tightened, with half a million documents examined in 2024. Indian students were associated with almost 80% of these bogus letters.

Related News:

Canada Sees Over13,000 Foreign Students Claim Asylum