BATHINDA: It is not only those settled in Canada getting shocks due to changes in immigration policies pertaining to international students and work permit holders, but also a shock for those desirous of migrating to Canada on a student visa under a fast-tracked process. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially stopped accepting study permits under the Student Direct Stream (SDS) for students from 14 countries, including India. This was a highly popular stream due to the quick processing time for permits, and most students used to apply through it. Now, students will have to apply through the standard application process, which, according to the schedule, takes 8 weeks but practically takes much longer, affecting the chances of many, said immigration consultants. Under SDS, the processing time was normally up to 3 weeks.
Earlier, post-graduate work permit holders had been protesting in Brampton for a long time, fearing their permits would expire in 2024 and 2025.
SDS was started in 2018 to expedite permit processing for students from 14 countries. Students had to meet specific criteria, mainly providing evidence of a Canadian Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) worth 20,635 Canadian Dollars.
“Despite all the happenings in Canada, we had made up our minds to send our son to Canada to study and had prepared documentation as well as funds, but we got to know that Canada has stopped the SDS stream, and now we will have to apply through the standard application process, which takes much more time,” said Kuldeep Singh from the village of Sanghera near Barnala.
Similarly, Karnail Singh from the village of Sivia near Bathinda said he had made up his mind to send his daughter to Canada, but with the stopping of the SDS scheme, he will rethink.
According to a Bathinda-based immigration consultant, the change in study permit protocols is a step towards the introduction of new regulations aimed at limiting the number of international students, work permit holders, and temporary residents in 2024. Under this, a cap of 437,000 students was set for 2025, along with new eligibility requirements for language proficiency and fields of study for students seeking Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP).
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.Neel Kamal writes about sustainable agriculture, environment, cli...
Read MoreNeel Kamal writes about sustainable agriculture, environment, climate change for The Times of India. His incisive and comprehensive reporting about over a year-long farmers' struggle against farm laws at the borders of the national capital won laurels. He is an alumunus of Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology.
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