Canada will step up screening of student admissions to curb immigration fraud

OTTAWA, Oct 27 (Reuters) – Canada will step up verification of university admission certificates to prevent the entry of fraudsters who target international students, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said on Friday.

Canada is a popular destination for international students because it is relatively easy to obtain a work permit, but the student immigration system is rife with fraud and “perverse incentives,” Miller told reporters in Brampton, Ontario.

Earlier this year, the problem of fraudulent admissions decisions came to the fore when dozens of foreign students received deportation letters claiming they had used forged documents to enter Canada.

Miller said starting in December, post-secondary educational institutions will be required to confirm each applicant’s certificate of admission directly with Canadian immigration authorities.

Canada also plans to launch a “recognized institutions” framework in fall 2024 that will identify institutions whose international students will benefit from better services, housing and other supports.

Such institutions could benefit from faster processing of study permit applications, Miller said, adding that more details will be announced next year.

“What we are seeing in the ecosystem is (a business model) … that aims for short-term gains without looking at the long-term pain, and we need to reverse that trend,” Miller said.

Canada relies on immigration to boost its economy and support an aging population, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has increased annual immigration.

According to the government, international education accounts for more than C$22 billion ($15.9 billion) in economic activity annually and supports more than 200,000 jobs in Canada.

Official data shows that there were more than 800,000 foreign students with active visas in Canada in 2022 and about 900,000 are expected to arrive in 2024.

($1 = 1.3869 Canadian dollars)

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