Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced significant changes to its policy affecting international students. According to a recent notice in the Canadian Gazette, IRCC suggests that overseas students apply for a new study permit if they want to change their Designated Learning Institution in Canada. This proposed rule may have an impact on many students who are considering transferring to another university.

New Study Permit Requirement for School Transfers

Students who wish to move DLIs will be required to file a new study permit application before their new program begins, according to the proposed revisions.

This new rule means that students cannot simply move institutions without IRCC's formal approval. The goal is to ensure that all overseas students continue to meet the standards set by Canadian immigration authorities.

Students who do not have a valid study permit will be able to attend the new DLI while the new permit application is processed. During this time, they must remain in Canada and abide by all of the terms of their current study permit. This interim permit is intended to prevent interruptions in students' academic endeavours while their fresh applications are reviewed.

Impact on Students and Designated Learning Institutions

The proposed policy changes have been analyzed in terms of their impact on international students and DLIs. Students must pay $150 to apply for a new study permit. Each application will take between 30 and 45 minutes to prepare.

For a decade, the overall financial burden on students might exceed $55.5 million in present value (PV). The increased volume of applications may also result in lengthier processing delays, however IRCC intends to mitigate this by reallocating resources.

The administrative burden on DLIs would also increase. As part of the new study permit process, institutions will be required to validate letters of acceptance (LOAs). This rule is anticipated to cost DLIs around $4.8 million PV over ten years.

Initially, validating LOAs will take about three minutes for each application, but this is expected to fall to 30 seconds as institutions become more accustomed to the new process.

Consultation Phase and Future Prospects

The proposed amendments are presently undergoing a 30-day consultation process. Since the fall of 2022, IRCC has consulted with a variety of stakeholders, including provincial and territory governments, national education groups, DLIs, and student representatives. These consultations resulted in the implementation of numerous policies targeted at strengthening the International Student Program.

For example, criticism of the LOA verification procedure resulted in new measures being deployed on December 1, 2023. Similarly, the existing study permit revisions will be open for comment until July 29, 2024. Following this period, the IRCC will analyze the responses and determine the next steps for the policy.

FAQS

How will the new rule affect international students' finances?

International students will pay $150 for each new study permit application. Additionally, preparing the application is likely to take 30 to 45 minutes. The total financial impact is expected to be $55.5 million in Present Value (PV) over ten years.

How will the IRCC handle the expected surge in study permit applications caused by the new rule?

The IRCC intends to manage the anticipated surge in study permit applications by reallocating resources to guarantee timely processing. This technique seeks to reduce delays while maintaining efficient service for students.