Canada Tightens Study Permit Approvals for Indian Students Amid Fraud Concerns

High Rejection Rates for Indian Study Permit Applications

In August 2023, Canada turned down approximately 74% of study permit applications from Indian students, as reported by a news agency citing data from the Canadian immigration department.

The rejection rate for Indian student visa applications reached 32% during this month.

Overall, the refusal rate for student visa applications in Canada this year is around 40%, while applications from Chinese students have a significantly lower rejection rate of 24%.

This increase in refusals is attributed to stricter scrutiny by Canadian authorities regarding fraudulent applications. In 2023, officials identified over 1,550 fraudulent study permit applications, primarily involving counterfeit acceptance letters from Indian education agents.

Interestingly, this rise in rejections occurs despite a decrease in the number of applicants from India. In August 2023, about 20,900 Indian students sought study permits, a drop from 4,515 during the same month last year.

The uptick in study permit refusals coincides with efforts by Canada and India to improve diplomatic relations following a period of tension. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously accused the Indian government of being involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Khalistani separatist, in Surrey, British Columbia. India has firmly denied these allegations.

Canada's Proposal for Mass Visa Cancellations

Ottawa's New Visa Cancellation Powers

The Canadian government is pursuing the authority to cancel groups of visas from nations deemed high-risk for fraud, including India, according to a report from a media channel.

Internal documents obtained by the Canadian broadcaster reveal that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, along with the Canada Border Services Agency, is collaborating with undisclosed U.S. partners to identify and annul fraudulent visa applications.

This initiative is part of Bill C-2, an immigration reform proposal that encompasses provisions for mass visa cancellations.

Immigration Minister Lena Diab has indicated that these powers would be utilized in exceptional circumstances, such as during pandemics or conflicts, while internal documents have flagged India and Bangladesh as facing specific challenges.

Additionally, Canada has experienced a notable increase in asylum claims from Indian nationals, rising from 500 per month in May 2023 to nearly 2,000 per month by July 2024, as reported by the Canadian news outlet.