Immigration groups are calling on the federal government to lift caps on international study permits and tighten qualifications for postgraduate work permits, saying many students will be left “in limbo”.
They argue that this cap unfairly targets a very specific segment of Canada’s immigrant population, while easing the path to permanent residence for other immigrants, including labor professionals. claims.
Tasnima Ahmed is attending the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto for two years on an international study permit. But with stricter rules introduced for obtaining a graduate work permit, she fears she will be deported to Bangladesh after graduation.
“I feel it’s very unfair, because many of us have been studying for three or four years and then hearing that there will be a cap on work permits, despite all the hard work we have put in, That doesn’t make sense.” And I put my heart and soul into all my research,” Ahmed said.
Earlier this month, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Mark Millar announced that Canada would reduce the number of international study permits it issues by 10% in 2025, after pledging to reduce the number of international study permits it issues by 35% already this year. announced that strict rules would be introduced. For students who wish to stay in Canada under a Graduate Work Permit.
“Many students are in a state of limbo, not knowing what their future holds,” said Mehnaz Lamia, international student representative for the Canadian Federation of Students.
“We live with deadlines every day because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring and policies can change at any time.”
While Miller says the new rules are in response to Canada’s housing shortage and inability to pay mortgages, immigration advocates say the rules are exposing many international students to an uncertain future. claims.
“The rules were changed in the middle of the game,” Salom Rom, an organizer with the Migrant Workers Alliance, told CTV News. “The passage of time is putting our students in great danger.”
Roe and other immigrant advocates are calling on the federal government to allow current students to apply for post-graduation work permits under the old rules.
“We are calling on the federal government to minimize the exclusion of all students already in Canada who have applied and committed to study in Canada under existing regulations.”
Student groups ‘feel targeted’
One of the ongoing issues for international students is that they believe their demographic is being unfairly targeted, even though a large number of permanent residence applications are available to other immigrant groups. That’s true.
Canada is distributing tens of thousands of “Invitation to Apply” (IAT) applications for permanent residence. Nearly 6,000 people in September.
These IATs can be a gateway to permanent residence for students, but they can also be issued to working adults already in Canada or other parts of the world.
However, since the permit cap only affects international students, they do not believe the path to permanent residence is a level playing field.
“I really hope we are prioritized,” Lamia added. “We would really like to see more resources and support structures instead of dismantling these supports and adding more policies that create further barriers.”
Immigrant advocacy groups are calling for policies aimed at students as well as fair treatment across the board for all immigrant groups.
“We are offering some benefits with express entry to certain people in society who are higher-level, highly skilled workers, and we have said that other elements of the immigration system are no longer welcome. So it’s really a divisive rule,” said Chris Ramsaroop of Immigrant Worker Justice.
“The nuance of the divisive rule is that many other racialized communities are being attacked.”
In response, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said, “Most of those ITAs are aimed at students who have obtained a (post-graduation work permit) and need a path to permanent residence.” ” he said. However, he did not say how many of those invitations would be sent to students or how many invitations would be issued to temporary foreign workers and other professionals.
“While it is unfair to blame students for the housing crisis, it is equally unfair to admit an unlimited number of international students without proper support such as housing, health care and appropriate educational environments,” IRCC said in a statement. Ta. statement.
