TORONTO: While Indian and Canada governments are locked in a diplomatic row, the thousands of international students mainly from India have applied for asylum in Canada after their work permits were not renewed by the Canadian authorities. More than 14000 asylum applications have been received by the Canada Immigration which is highest number in a year.
The Canadian government has issued an alert to the immigration authorities about high asyalum clais by students and said that the licensed immigration consultants are unethically advising students to claim asylum. This has resulted in some students providing “false” information.
The Canadian Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller has written to the president and chief executive officer of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants highlighting the current trend. The trend was noticed after Canada government reduced the number of Permanent immigrants in Canada and announced curbs on work permits. About 1.25 lakh studnets are facing uncertain future due to new immigration guidelines.
In a letter to John Murray, president and CEO of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, Miller wrote, “I am concerned by reports that some of these students are being counseled by third parties to provide false information. Canada is dedicated to aiding individuals in need of protection. However, counseling asylum seekers to misrepresent themselves to remain in Canada would be contrary to the objectives of Canada’s immigration system.”
As per the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the country welcomed 6, 82, 060 international students of which Indians were the largest, with 40.7% of 2, 78, 250 study permits issued in 2023. In 2022, as many as 5, 51, 405 international students reached Canada of which 2, 26, 450 (41%) were from India. Now nearly 6 lakh students are on study permit in Canada.
Meanwhile, visa agents are seeing an uptick in Indian students going to Europe and Australia against the backdrop of the changes in Canada’s visa regime that no longer appears as welcoming as before.
Canada received 6.82 lakh international students, of which India formed the largest number, comprising 40.7% of the 2.78 lakh study permits issued in 2023. Majority of students were from Punjab, it is reported.
In 2022, 5.51 lakh new international students reached Canada, of which 2.26 lakh (41%) were from India