International student crisis in Canada: More than 70,000 students fear deportation and many Indian students are worried
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More than 70,000 international students graduate from Canada They are currently at risk of deportation. International students are protesting across the country against the decision of Justin Trudeau’s government to reduce nominations for permanent residency and limit study permits. Students are holding protests and organizing rallies in several places, including Prince Edward Island (PEI), Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
Representatives of the Naujawan Support Network have warned that many graduates could be deported once their work permit expires. Their stay in Canada is at risk due to new provincial policies that have introduced a 25% reduction in nominations for permanent residency.
“I spent the most crucial six years of my life taking a lot of risks to come to Canada. For the last six years I studied, worked, paid taxes, earned enough CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) points, but the government just took advantage of us,” Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student facing deportation, told Canadian news platform OMNI News.
Why Canada decided to cut study visas for international students
Canada has experienced rapid population growth in recent years. According to federal data, about 97 percent of Canada’s population increase in 2023 was due to immigration. It was in 2023 that the influx of international students put pressure on Canada’s housing, healthcare, and other services. Taking this into account, the Canadian government decided to impose a cap on applications for international study permits. The aim of this measure is to control growth over the next two years. The government has analyzed that this measure is expected to contribute to a 35% reduction in approved study permits compared to the previous year.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has ended a temporary public policy that allowed visitors to apply for a work permit from within Canada, effective immediately. The official notice released by the government on August 28 reads: “IRCC introduced the policy in August 2020 to assist visitors who were unable to leave the country due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the policy, visitors to Canada could apply for a work permit without having to leave the country. In addition, foreign nationals who had held a work permit in the previous 12 months but changed their status in Canada to “visitor” could apply to legally work in Canada while awaiting a decision on their new work permit application.” However, IRCC will continue to process applications submitted before August 28, 2024 under the policy.
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