Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is implementing measures to fortify the integrity of its international student program. A notable development is the launch of an online portal for Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) to validate letters of acceptance (LOAs) used by international students in their visa applications.
DLIs now have a 10-day window to confirm the authenticity of LOAs through this exclusive portal. Failure to verify within this timeframe, or confirmation of a falsified LOA, will result in the cancellation of the student's visa application and a refund of any associated processing fees.
This initiative addresses past abuses of the system, highlighted by last year's incident involving 700 Indian students deceived by counterfeit acceptance letters.
Looking ahead to fall 2024, IRCC plans to introduce the "Trusted Institutions Framework." This two-tiered system aims to streamline study permit processing for recognized institutions. While details are still emerging, this framework will play a crucial role in maintaining program integrity and ensuring sufficient support for international students.
IRCC's 2024 agenda for the international student program includes significant updates:
These changes come as Canada prepares to accommodate nearly a million international students in the upcoming year, marking a pivotal period for the program.