Canada Uncovers Thousands of Fake Student Visas With 80% From One Asian Country

Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has uncovered over 10,000 fraudulent student acceptance letters in 2024, according to The Globe and Mail. This discovery follows a comprehensive review of 500,000 international student documents under enhanced verification protocols. Reports indicate that approximately 80% of these fake letters were linked to students from Gujarat and Punjab in India.

Why the Tighter Measures?

The crackdown was prompted by a 2023 incident where fraudulent acceptance letters issued by an unlicensed Indian consultant put international students at risk of deportation. To prevent such cases, Canada now mandates designated learning institutions (DLIs) to verify acceptance letters through an online portal.

Bronwyn May, Director-General of IRCC’s International Students Branch, informed a parliamentary committee that 2% of documents reviewed were fraudulent, while an additional 1% involved canceled admissions.

Concerns Over Exploitation

Jenny Kwan, Canada’s New Democratic Party immigration critic, called the findings “extremely alarming,” emphasizing Canada’s responsibility to protect defrauded international students. Concerns have also been raised about some educational institutions failing to authenticate acceptance letters.

Government Actions and Policy Changes

The IRCC has intensified investigations, focusing on 2,000 cases involving students from India, China, and Vietnam. Of these, 1,485 students used fraudulent documents, leading to entry refusals or deportations.

Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, highlighted efforts to improve international students’ experiences. Key measures include:

• Stricter Verification: Since December 1, 2023, nearly 529,000 letters of acceptance have been reviewed, with over 17,000 flagged as invalid or canceled.
• DLI Compliance Reporting: DLIs must submit biannual reports confirming student enrollment. Non-compliance can lead to suspension from admitting new students for up to a year.
• Permit Monitoring: Students who drop out or fail to meet permit conditions face enforcement actions.

Quebec Institutions Exemption

Currently, Quebec’s DLIs are exempt from the compliance reporting system, but IRCC is working to integrate them. A grace period is in place until the system is fully operational for Quebec institutions.

Impact on International Students

IRCC now requires students to obtain a new study permit if transferring institutions. This measure aims to protect students from financial and legal risks while enhancing the integrity of the International Student Program.

“These changes are a vital step toward strengthening the program and ensuring positive experiences for international students,” IRCC stated in a press release on November 15.