Canada ends fast track visa programme, Indian students likely to be impacted

Canada has ended with immediate effect the popular fast track study visa programme SDS a major policy decision that is likely to impact scores of international students including from India reported news agency PTIThe processing time for students applying under the Student Direct Stream SDS was significantly shorter and approval rates higher something that will change after Canada ended the scheme on FridayPrime Minister Justin Trudeau in September had announced on X Were granting 35 per cent fewer international student permits this year And next year that numbers going down by another 10 per centImmigration is an advantage for our economy but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students we crack down he added in the post as the Canadian government said it was looking to reduce the number of temporary residentsThe move comes amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and CanadaAccording to the Indian High Commission here India is the largest source country of foreign students with an estimated 427000 Indian students studying in CanadaCanada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada IRCC said in a statement on Friday reported PTICanadas goal is to strengthen programme integrity address student vulnerability and give all students equal and fair access to the application process as well as a positive academic experience the statement said reported PTIThe SDS was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible postsecondary students it said adding it was eventually opened to legal residents of Antigua and Barbuda Brazil China Colombia Costa Rica India Morocco Pakistan Peru Philippines Senegal St Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago and VietnamThere was a similar Nigeria Student Express NSE for prospective university students from Nigeria it too has ended along with the SDS the statement said adding both the SDS and the NSE initiatives ended on Friday reported PTIThe IRCC gave a cut off time of 200 pm ET on Friday 0030 IST Saturday and said all the eligible SDS and NSE applications received before it will be processed under these streamsHowever the IRCC said the prospective students can still apply through the regular study permit stream for which Guaranteed Investment Certificates are accepted as proof of financial support reported PTIAccording to a news portal immigrationnewscanadaca the SDS was launched with the goal of simplifying and expediting study permit processing for students from selected countries The streamlined process allowed eligible applicants from countries such as India China and Philippines to enter Canada faster typically within a few weeks rather than waiting for the standard processing time which could take several months it added reported PTIExplained another portal moving2canadacom Year 2024 has been a turbulent year for prospective students looking to study in Canada with significant cuts being made to the number of international students Canada will admit each year In contrast many say the fasttracking of SDS and NSE applications as a means to accept as many students as possible reported PTIUnder SDS Indian students applications were processed within 20 business days and now it may take up to eight weeks the portal addedNot just for international students Canada is also stepping back from its previously welcoming immigration stance especially for lowskilled workers including a large number from IndiaOn October 24 Immigration Minister Marc Miller outlined the latest immigration strategy saying Canada will admit approximately 395000 permanent residents in 2025 marking a drop of nearly 20 per cent from the 485000 expected this year reported PTIThe plan also sets a target for temporary immigrants including international students and foreign workers Their numbers are expected to drop to about 446000 in 2025 and 2026 down from roughly 800000 this yearBy 2027 Canada will accept just 17400 new nonpermanent residents the new policy suggestedWith inputs from PTI