Study in Canada: New verification process announced to protect international students from fraud

NEW DELHI: The Canadian government has announced a new verification process to begin from December this year in order to protect international students from fraud. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) minister announced other changes in the international student programme to make it easier to study in Canada.

“While international students have contributed to life on campuses across the country, they have also experienced some serious challenges navigating Canada’s International Student Program,” IRCC said in an official statement.

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The minister announced several measures to protect students from fraud which are as follows:

• Starting December 1, 2023, post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLI) will be required to confirm every applicant’s letter of acceptance directly with IRCC.
• In time for the fall 2024 semester, IRCC will adopt a “recognized institution” framework to benefit post-secondary DLIs that set a higher standard for services, support and outcomes for international students.
• IRCC will complete an assessment of Post-Graduation Work Permit Program criteria and begin introducing reforms to better calibrate it to meet the needs of the Canadian labour market, as well as regional and Francophone immigration goals.

Today we’re announcing more ways to protect international students from fraud and make it easier to study in Canada: https://t.co/ONEzOT8sJE

✅Starting December 1, 2023, post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLI) will be required to confirm every applicant’s letter of… pic.twitter.com/Y4lxUy5kru

— IRCC (@CitImmCanada) October 27, 2023

“This new, enhanced verification process aims to protect prospective students from letter‑of‑acceptance fraud and to help them avoid similar problems that some students faced earlier this year as a result of fraud investigations. It will also ensure that study permits are issued based only on genuine letters of acceptance,” IRCC said about the verification process.

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IRCC informed that a task force was formed in June to work with Canada Border Services Agency to review the cases of students affected by fraud after investigations into fraud admission letters. A total of 103 cases were received out of which 63 were found to be genuine students.

“Through these measures, we are taking action against nefarious actors who have preyed on genuine students for financial gain by identifying every fraudulent letter of acceptance soon after it is submitted,” IRCC further said.