Proposed Changes to Canada's International Student Program
Immigration law
04 Dec
Under agreements called Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), provinces and territories (PTs) work with IRCC to set basic rules for naming schools as designated learning institutions (DLIs). These DLIs are approved to enroll international students. IRCC handles the applications for study permits from international students who have been accepted by a DLI.
In other words -Imagine provinces and territories (PTs) and IRCC in a buddy cop movie where they sign Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to set the ground rules for naming schools as designated learning institutions (DLIs). These DLIs are like cool clubs for international students. IRCC then becomes the gatekeeper for study permit applications from these lucky students who got into one of these exclusive clubs.
Managing the International Student Program involves both IRCC and the Provinces/Territories (PTs). IRCC makes rules about how international students can come to Canada, what rules they must follow while studying here, and who gets permission to study in Canada.
To get the nod from Canada's educational institutions (DLIs) for international students, they've got to impress their local province or territory. Each one has its own set of standards laid out in agreements, making sure DLIs measure up. And when provinces want to shuffle the DLI deck, they give IRCC a head-up—except Quebec, doing its own cool thing with its own rules.
The suggested regulatory changes pertain specifically to post-secondary DLIs and international students at the post-secondary level. Whenever DLIs are mentioned in this document, it pertains only to institutions operating at the post-secondary level.
Three issues have been identified that affect the integrity of the current program.
- The government can't force schools to report, which means they can't always tell if students are actually going to class or if acceptance letters are legit. It's like trying to catch a bus that never shows up—how are you supposed to get where you need to go?
- Currently, IRCC can't impose consequences on schools that misbehave, like putting them in time-out by pausing study permit approvals. So, they have to keep issuing study permits to students even when those schools aren't reporting student enrollment or verifying acceptance letters. It's like trying to give out awards to students in a class that's always skipping attendance—how do you reward them when you don't even know who's there?
- Also, under the current rules, IRCC can't make international students raise their hand if they switch schools. So, they can't always be sure if students are showing up or following the study permit rules when they switch schools. When students hop between schools without a heads-up, it's like trying to count sheep that keep jumping over the fence—it messes things up for everyone involved!
THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS would make it mandatory for post-secondary DLIs to meet the specified conditions using the electronic tools handpicked by the Minister. They're really into their gadgets!
- Within 10 days of the Minister's "quick, tell me!" memo, confirm that a student has actually signed up for that course they applied to study.
- Send in a status report within 60 days of the Minister's polite reminder, detailing who's really into their studies and who's just here for the campus food.
- If the Minister spots any slip-ups in your report, fix them pronto or add in the missing bits within 10 days of the heads-up.
Whenever the Minister gets curious (which is often), provide whatever else they fancy—like juicy details about study permits and who's got their name on them.
Alright, listen up international students! You can change your school whenever you want, but Canada's immigration folks suggest you drop them a note on their fancy secure website. It's like a polite heads-up, not a law yet, but it's good manners, you know? These are set under the suggested regulatory changes. If you switch schools without sending them a quick note, they might think you're skipping class at your old school and start asking questions. That could get you in trouble, maybe even mess up your chance of getting another study permit down the road.
So, for everyone's sake — you, your school, and the government — keep 'em in the loop about where you're studying. It's like updating your status on Facebook, but for
Verification of DLI compliance with conditions - The suggested rules would enable an IRCC officer to check if a DLI is meeting its obligations in these situations:
The proposed regulations give IRCC officers the green light to play detective: they can investigate if a DLI isn't toeing the line (maybe they've been fibbing a bit), suspect a letter of acceptance was issued under dubious circumstances, or just decide to pick a DLI for a surprise audit. It's like the immigration version of "CSI: Educational Institutions."
If a DLI drops the ball on a condition under the proposed regulations, they might catch a break if they can prove they tried their darnedest or genuinely thought they were doing the right thing.
Also under these proposed rules, if an officer catches a DLI breaking a rule, they have to send them a "preliminary finding" notice. It's like a formal "hey, you messed up" memo that includes the DLI's name, what rule they broke (oops!), how long they might be in timeout, and why they're in trouble. Oh, and they get 30 days to explain themselves in writing, but the notice is considered "received" 10 days after they mail it out. It's bureaucratic time travel, well! Kind of.
And more so under the proposed regulations, DLIs can submit written responses and relevant documents within 30 days of receiving a preliminary finding notice. The Minister may grant a 30-day extension if exceptional circumstances prevent or impede the institution from submitting on time.
Suspension list and period - When it comes to deciding if a DLI deserves a time-out on the suspension list and for how long, the proposed rules seem to put the Minister in the judge's seat. They'll consider how often and how seriously the DLI messed up, whether they made a decent effort to follow the rules (or not), how cooperative they were during inspections, and what kind of excuses they wrote up in response to getting caught red-handed.
To really drive the message home, there's even a public "suspension list" where the Minister will name and shame them, detailing the DLI's name, address, website (so everyone knows where not to click), the specific rule they broke, and how long they'll be in the penalty box—up to a maximum of 12 months.
During this time, any hopeful students applying for a study permit involving that DLI will have their applications tossed back like a hot potato—no processing, no fee, nothing. It's like a school's principal office, but for colleges and universities.
Consequences for not complying with the conditions - In a surprising turn of events, Canada is set to make its study permit regulations more... precise. According to the proposed amendments, study permit holders must now stick like glue to the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) listed on their permit. No more educational wandering!
The permit will now play hardball—invalidity could strike the moment you dare to drift from your DLI home base.
So, dear international students, remember - In Canada, you enroll, you stay enrolled, and your permit stays valid. The stakes? Your educational journey—and possibly your ability to stay in the Great White North. Better hit those books, eh?
In a move that's got international students buzzing (politely, of course), Canada is looking to up the ante on work-life balance. The Great White North is proposing to boost the weekly off-campus work limit from 20 hours to a cool 24 hours during regular academic sessions. This tweak promises to give students not just more study time, but also a chance to earn their poutine money in the bustling Canadian workforce. It's all part of Canada's plan to enrich the educational journey of international scholars while keeping an eye on the maple-scented bottom line. Who knew crunching numbers could be so... sweet?
The proposed regulatory changes would give IRCC the superpowers needed to squash integrity issues and wrangle those pesky unethical behaviors that try to trip up the program's good name.