A recent announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in the Canadian Gazette has drawn attention due to proposed changes to Canada’s international student program. One significant change suggests that international students wishing to transfer between Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) must apply for a new study permit. DLIs are the only schools in Canada authorized to accept international students and must adhere to IRCC regulations. This proposal aims to ensure that institutions comply with the new admission regulations, despite DLIs currently falling under provincial jurisdiction.
Under the proposed changes, students looking to switch DLIs would need to submit a new study permit application before the start date of their new program. Although students could attend the new DLI while waiting for the permit decision, they must remain in Canada and comply with all conditions of their current study permit. This change seeks to streamline the process and ensure that institutions maintain compliance, though it introduces new administrative requirements for both students and DLIs.
The proposal’s impact assessment highlights the financial and administrative costs for stakeholders. International students would incur a $150 fee per application and spend 30 to 45 minutes on preparation, with total costs estimated at $55.5 million over ten years. Processing times might increase due to the higher volume of applications, though IRCC plans to reallocate resources to manage this. This new requirement could disrupt students’ academic plans due to the added administrative burden and uncertainty.
DLIs will also face compliance and administrative costs, particularly in verifying Letters of Acceptance (LOAs), a crucial part of the new study permit process. The estimated cost for DLIs is $4.8 million over ten years, with initial LOA verification expected to take three minutes per application, decreasing to 30 seconds as institutions become accustomed to the process. These additional responsibilities aim to ensure that DLIs maintain strict adherence to regulations, but they also increase the operational workload for educational institutions.
The adoption of these changes remains uncertain, but past practices offer some insight. The proposed changes are currently in a 30-day consultation phase, ending on July 29, 2024. Since fall 2022, IRCC has consulted various stakeholders, including provincial and territorial ministries, national education associations, DLIs, and student organizations, on policies to improve the International Student Program. Many previously consulted policies have been adopted, such as the LOA verification process changes implemented on December 1, 2023. Following the consultation period, IRCC will review feedback and determine the next steps, potentially leading to the adoption of these new study permit requirements.
Source: CIC News