Canada’s new visa rules may trouble Indian students, workers

Ottawa, Canada: Canada’s new migration policies could significantly impact thousands of foreign students, including Indians, as well as those seeking work and residency permits.

Effective from February, these rules grant Canadian border officials the authority to modify visa statuses at their discretion. Under the updated Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Officials can reject or revoke temporary resident documents such as electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), temporary resident visas (TRVs), work permits, and student visas.

While specific guidelines must be met for such actions, one key criterion allows officials to deny entry or cancel permits if they believe the individual may not leave Canada after their authorized stay.

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Canada’s New Visa Rules: Uncertainty for Students and Workers

The discretionary powers to make such judgement is entirely vested upon the officer.

These new rules and regulations have a scope of uncertainty, and will potentially impact tens of thousands. If not hundreds of thousands of international students and workers – of which Indians are the largest group of foreign nationals in either category.

Canada is among the most preferred destination for Indian students, workers, and legal migrants. Students alone, currently pursuing their higher education in Canada, account for more than 4.2 lakh Indian nationals as per government data.

If officials reject a student, worker, or migrant. They will stop them at the port of entry and send them back to their home country. If authorities cancel a permit while the person is already studying, working, or residing in Canada. They will issue a notice instructing them to leave the country by a specified date.

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Canada New Visa Rules May Disrupt Indian Travelers and Students

Apart from students and workers, Canada also attracts a significant number of Indian tourists, all of whom hold temporary permits with varying durations. In the first half of 2024, Canada granted travel visas to over 3.6 lakh Indians. A similar trend in 2023 when 3.4 lakh Indian tourists visited during the same period, according to Canadian authorities.

Individuals affected by the new visa regulations will receive notifications from Immigration, Refugees. And Citizenship Canada (IRCC) via email and their IRCC accounts. However, there is no clarity on refunds for expenses such as tuition fees, loans, mortgages, or rent if their permits are suddenly canceled.

Just three months ago, in November 2024, Canada discontinued the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program. Which was a preferred option for Indian students willing to pay upfront to secure their education in Canada.