Canadian Student Visa Approvals Drop by 42%
Following a diplomatic dispute with India, Canada has seen a significant decrease in the processing of student visas, with a 42% drop in the last quarter of 2023. This decline was anticipated by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) after Canada's expulsion of 41 out of 62 diplomats from India, which drastically reduced its visa processing capabilities.
During the final quarter of 2023, Canada finalized only 69,203 student permit applications from Indian students, a stark reduction from the 119,000 applications processed in the same period of 2022. This reduction contributes to an overall 15% decrease in permits processed for Indian students from 2022 to 2023, dropping from 363,000 to 307,000.
Despite the withdrawal of diplomatic staff, which directly impacted visa processing times as IRCC had cautioned, the full extent of this impact was only recently revealed with updated student visa statistics for Indian applicants. The significant drop in processed applications is evident when comparing monthly figures from the last quarter of 2022 to 2023, highlighting the challenges faced by prospective students.
Education consultant Viral Doshi predicts extended study permit processing times, possibly up to six months, which could impact students' ability to start their college year on time. Despite this slowdown, applications for Canadian study permit continue, albeit at a reduced pace.
The tension between Canada and India escalated following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of India's involvement in the murder of a Sikh activist, leading to India revoking the immunity of most Canadian diplomats. Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller acknowledged the diplomatic strain has halved the country's capacity to process applications from India, a situation that doesn’t seem likely to improve shortly.
Compounding the issue, Canada has introduced more restrictive rules for international students and announced a two-year cap on new international student visas to manage the growth and alleviate pressure on domestic resources. For 2024, this cap is expected to limit study permit approvals to around 360,000, marking a 35% decrease from 2023.
Education experts note a softening in the Canadian market, with students adopting a wait-and-see approach due to the new visa cap and the ongoing diplomatic tensions affecting the processing of study permits.
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