Canada has announced a new verification process for foreign students, following a recent case of visa fraud that affected 700 Indian students.
The new process, which will begin on December 1, 2023, will involve confirming the authenticity of the “letter of acceptance,” a document that is required to obtain a study permit in Canada.
The Canadian government says that the new process is necessary to protect students from fraud and to ensure that study permits are only issued to students who have been accepted to legitimate educational institutions.
Under the new process, educational institutions will be required to directly verify each applicant’s letter of acceptance with the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The announcement of the new verification process comes as a relief to students who are planning to study in Canada. The Canadian government had previously suspended visa services in India, which caused significant delays for students who were preparing to enroll in universities for the winter session.
The Canadian government has clarified that the IRCC department will only be able to process 20,000 out of the expected 38,000 visas by December. However, India has also taken steps to ease the strains between the two countries by restoring visa services in certain categories.
Canada Visa Verification, New Student Visa Process, Foreign Students in Canada, Canada Visa Fraud Case, Enhanced Visa Measures