Canada Immigration Minister Marc Miller to introduce changes in study permits

In a major development, Canada’s immigration minister is expected to introduce the changes to study permits issued to international students for studying in the country.

 

At least five months after Immigration MInister Marc Miller and Housing Minister Sean Fraser first floated the idea of limiting international students in the country during a cabinet retreat in Charlottetown, MIller is now expected to outline the plan.

 

Miller’s suggested move comes as the federal cabinet is spending a three-day retreat in Montreal, planning for parliament sitting, Global News report stated.

 

In 2022, more than 800,000 international students were issued international study visas and reportedly, in 2023, Miller said the numbers are expected to spike to 900,000. Especially in the recent months, Miller has consistently spoken about how the significant influx of international students are increasing the acute housing crisis in the country.

 

Partly, ​​Miller attributes the increase in problems to certain educational institutions that recruit international students mainly for financial gain. According to him, these institutions often neglect to provide quality education or adequate support for their well-being in Canada. This lack of support further extends to housing, with numerous instances reported in recent years of international students struggling to find safe and secure accommodation.

 

Miller has also issued a warning to provinces, urging them to address abuses and fraud within the system. He cautioned that if these issues aren't tackled effectively, the federal government might have to limit the number of student visas issued. In December, Miller said, “There is fraud and abuse and it needs to end.”

 

In the same press conference, Canada Immigration Minister Marc Miller introduced the plan to increase the money that foreign students should have in order to get their visas approved. The amount is now $20,635 from $10,000 in 2023.

Image credits: Getty Images / mirsad sarajilic