Relations between India and Canada are strained. Meanwhile, Canada has ended the fast track study visa program for international students i.e. Student Direct Stream (SDS). It will have a big impact on students of many countries including India. Students who applied under the Student Direct stream got study visas in a very short time. According to the Indian High Commission, India is the largest source country of foreign students, with an estimated 4 lakh 27 thousand Indian students studying in Canada.
Let us tell you that applications of Indian students under SDS used to be processed in just 20 days, that is, this work used to take only 20 days, but now it can take up to 8 weeks.
In fact, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) was launched in the year 2018 for eligible post-secondary students, so that students can get visas faster. Under this, pathways were opened for students from India, Antigua, Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad, Tobago, Vietnam.
IRCC said this At the same time, a statement from Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said that we are committed to providing equal and fair opportunities to all international students in the study visa application process. The statement also said that Canada's goal is to strengthen the integrity of the Fast Track Study Visa program and provide equality in the application process for all students.
The decision of the Canadian government has affected the students of 18 countries.
What did Justin Trudeau say? Earlier in September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on X that we are issuing 35 percent fewer international student visas this year and that number will drop by 10 percent next year. “Immigration is good for our economy, but we act when bad people abuse the system and take advantage of students,” he said. He said he was looking to reduce the number of temporary residents.
Students can apply with regular study permit IRCC has given a cut-off time of 2:30 pm Indian time on Saturday and said that all eligible SDS applications received before this will be processed. However, IRCC also said that prospective students can still apply through the regular study permit stream.
Canada is reducing the number of international students Moving2canada.com, a Canadian portal, reports that the year 2024 has been a tumultuous year for prospective students wishing to study in Canada, as the number of international students seeking admission to Canada is decreasing every year. The portal said that under SDS, applications from Indian students were processed in just 20 days, meaning the process used to take only 20 days, but now it can take up to 8 weeks.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
