According to a TOI report, Indian authorities are investigating possible links between Canadian universities hosting international students and illegal immigrant networks in India. Some students are suspected of illegally crossing the Canada-U.S. border without attending class. But immigration expert Henry Rotin believes the majority of Indian no-shows remain in Canada and work toward becoming permanent residents. The number of international students seeking asylum in Canada is rapidly increasing. Lottin emphasized the need for stricter prepayments and stronger tracking to reduce such fraud.
Also read: Canada tightens rules on open work permits for families of international students and workers
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Compliance data reveals that non-compliance rates vary by country. In the Philippines, 2.2% of students were absent from school, followed by China at 6.4%, Iran at 11.6%, and Rwanda at 48.1%. Universities are required to report on the enrollment status of international students once every six months. Under new regulations introduced by Immigration Minister Mark Miller in November, institutions that fail to meet these requirements could be suspended from enrolling international students for up to a year.
Also read: All about Canada’s new guidelines for international students transferring in 2025 An additional 23,514 students, or 3.3% of tracked students, are missing due to incomplete reporting by institutions . This suggests that at least 10% of student visa holders are not included. “Roughly speaking, this suggests that at least 10 percent of student visa holders are missing,” immigration expert Lotin said. For the first time, we have conclusive data. Questions still remain about where all student visa holders are. ” Also read: Millions of immigrants may have to leave Canada this year
Further complicating the issue is the discrepancy in student numbers reported by IRCC and Statistics Canada. Statistics Canada estimated the number of active student visas in April 2024 to be over one million, but IRCC’s active enrollment numbers were significantly lower.
Experts such as Lottin and immigration lawyer David Matas are calling for greater transparency and tighter regulation. Matas also recommended limiting the use of foreign agents in visa applications to regulated Canadian lawyers and consultants to prevent fraud. Conservative immigration critic Tom Kmeets criticized the federal government’s handling of the immigration system for a lack of oversight and sloppy management. Canada is facing growing concerns about study permit abuse, and authorities in both Canada and India are working to address the issue, including investigations into smuggling networks and non-compliant institutions.
