Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has finally announced its new immigration measures for international students coming to Canada in 2024.
The measures primarily institute an annual cap on international students with limits set according to provinces. These have been imposed due to the housing crisis in Canada along with depleting employment opportunities and other services.
“For me, the policy brings no changes, but I am concerned about other upcoming international students,” says Harjot Kaur, a post-graduated work permit holder. “I criticize the policy as it will completely shatter the hopes of students who wish to come to Canada for study and getting skilled jobs.”
International students make a significant part in Canada’s cultural, economic, and social demographics. Their education accounts for more than $22 billion in Canada’s economy. They also bring diversity because of their versatile backgrounds and coming from different parts of the world.
However, international students are facing significant challenges with regards to affordable housing and other educational services in the past few years.
Canada is expected to approve an estimated 360,000 undergraduate study permit applications in 2024 — a drop of 35 per cent compared to the number approved in 2023.
“This is good decision to address the housing crisis in Canada,” said Armaan Passi, a second-year architecture technologies student at SAIT. “But it is very difficult for students who already have applied or getting ready to come to Canada. Some families are very poor, and they borrow money to send their child for higher studies in countries like Canada.”
Students enrolled in master’s programs, doctoral degrees, elementary and secondary education will not be affected by any of these measures. In 2024, students in master’s and doctoral programs will be eligible to obtain three-year work permits after their study. This will help them in gaining the required work experience in Canada for high skilled jobs.
Private institutions with curriculum licensing arrangements are declared as a ‘loophole’ by the government as these colleges provide less educational facilities and are primarily taken by international students to order to gain post-graduate work permit after their studies. Therefore, international students enrolled in these colleges will not be issued post-graduation work permits starting September 1, 2024.
The measures have been applied for the next two years. The number of applications that will be approved in 2025 will be reassessed by the end of 2024. These measures along with the previous announcement of an increase in funds (GIC) for students will subsequently decrease the applications in the category.
“Rather than inviting them here to live miserably, it is a wise thing to prevent them at first place,” Passi said. “Everything has become so expensive nowadays that even Canadians can’t afford to buy more. Students are exploited at work due to shortage of work and are even paid less than regular wage.”
The approach is also seen as terrible for international students who were considering Canada as their favorable spot for higher studies. With immigration rules changing frequently and increased required deposits in saving funds, many students are shifting to other alternate options for their study.
“The previous modification of increase in GIC funds was enough to remove most students from the competition,” Kaur said. “More policies like these will hinder the intake of upcoming students and they will preferably choose other options available to them.”
