Indian Students in Canada Asked to Resubmit Documents, Triggering Panic: Indian students studying in Canada have been requested to submit identification documents such as study permits, visas, and educational credentials, among other vital papers, for the second time, leading to confusion and fear among international students, according to the Times of India.
The Igwe and Côté report this directive from Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the ministry coordinating the international students’ policies, has kept many of them worried, despite some having legally valid visas till 2026.
Avinash Kaushik, a postgraduate student in British Columbia, shared his concern: Thus, even the email I received left me in shock. My visa is valid until 2026, yet I was compelled to reproduce all my papers for one to be allowed in the university. Several students, especially from Punjab, where the situation is, shared similar experiences; some have been asked to go and visit IRCC offices to prove their identity.
Recent policy changes include adopting stringent financial tests and even rationing the number of international students for IRCC. It aims to control the influx of students. This move has sparked debate among 427,000 from India studying in Canada today, which, as per the latest stats, is more than there are in the USA for the year 2024.
Manisha Patel, a business management student, expressed her frustration: “We selected Canada because it is friendly to workers, but this seems unfair,” she said. Immigration consultant Mr. Mehbub Rajwani said these measures could be trying to eliminate certain students, mainly those changing institutions, to focus on work more than academics. Failure to adhere to these requests attracts the penalty of canceling the visas. The government of Canada instructs students to follow the directions of IRCC very closely.
The department has also ceased its student direct stream (SDS) program that previously provided fast-track study permits, furthering the woes of international students. Concerns have been raised, and students and advocates demand that the IRCC communicate better and help those in this ever-tighter environment.
