Changes to Canada's Internation Student Program, Proposed

If you are one of those planning to apply for Study Permit/Visa to enter Canada but with purposes other than to Study in Canada, think again.   New measures to prevent fraud in the International Student Program (ISP) were proposed  by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney few days before the end of 2012.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is proposing regulatory changes to limit study permits to students attending institutions designated by provinces and territories.  The proposed changes would address concerns that some institutions are providing poor-quality programs or facilitating, knowingly or not, the entry of foreign nationals to Canada for purposes other than study.

Under the proposed amendments, CIC would work with provinces and territories – which are constitutionally responsible for education – to develop a framework to designate educational institutions that will be permitted to host international students.  If a school is not designated, it would be able to continue offering programs of six months or less to foreign nationals in Canada on regular visitor visas. Visitors who wish to enroll in short-term courses do not currently require a study permit, and this would continue to be the case.

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada