Canada cracks down on college switches for Study Visa holders: New rules impact Indian students

Ottawa (The Uttam Hindu): In a bid to tighten immigration regulations, the Canadian government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has introduced stricter rules for international students applying for study visas. As per the latest regulations, students from India who secure admission in a Canadian college will no longer be allowed to switch institutions after arriving in Canada. If a student changes their college, they will be required to apply for a new study visa. In the event of a visa refusal, the student must leave Canada within 30 days.

Under the new rules, students who change their college will also forfeit the opportunity to apply for a post-study work permit. Additionally, if they have already paid the fees for their original college, they will not be eligible for a refund. Reports indicate that every year, more than 2.5 lakh Indian students travel to Canada on study visas, with approximately 1.5 to 1.75 lakh students coming from Punjab alone. Historically, about 50% of international students used to switch colleges after arriving in Canada. Previously, students could remove the offer letter from the college they had applied to and upload a new one from the college they were transferring to on the Canadian immigration portal. In many cases, they were able to receive a fee refund, although not always in full.

The new rules aim to curb the practice of misleading students, particularly by agents who often encouraged them to change colleges by offering promises of fee discounts. These agents typically earned commissions from the colleges that accepted the transferred students. Under the revised regulations, students will no longer be able to change colleges without facing significant consequences, including having to reapply for a study visa, which may be denied. In such cases, students will be required to leave Canada within 30 days.