Question Period Note: Refusal of international students from Africa

Concerns regarding the amount of refusals for international students from Africa.

The Government of Canada is committed to a fair and non-discriminatory application of immigration procedures.

All applications from around the world are assessed equally against the same criteria. Anyone can apply to come to Canada as a temporary or permanent resident, provided they meet the qualifications.

Study permit applicants must first be accepted to a Canadian designated learning institution before applying to IRCC for a study permit. Officers then assess applications to determine if applicants are bona fide (genuine) students and also that they are admissible to Canada on health, security and financial grounds.

IRCC understands that applicants, as well as the schools that accepted them, are disappointed when an application is refused.

My department has made efforts to attract eligible students in Africa by engaging in outreach with partners, and regularly hosts webinars to explain the study permit application process and requirements.

If pressed:
Admissibility and eligibility factors are common to all types of applications: applicants must show that they have the resources to support themselves while in Canada and that they would depart Canada at the end of their stay.

Moreover, IRCC has implemented the Student Direct Stream (SDS) in Senegal and Morocco and a new initiative called the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) to assist students in making solid applications. NSE has allowed for an increase in the approval rate from 20% in 2019 to 50% so far in 2021.

• Volumes of temporary resident visa and study permit applications quadrupled across the African continent between 2012 and 2019, with the number of refusals increasing in relative proportion.

• Approval rates in many African countries are historically lower than global averages. Due to economic circumstances in many countries where a visa is required, some applicants for study permits are in fact seeking opportunities in Canada other than studies, for example, seeking to work without studying. Many applicants seeking a study permit do not present sufficient funds for their studies, or do not satisfy the visa officer that the studies are a reasonable expense given factors such as limited assets and low income.

• In countries with a high interest in Canada, there are entrenched networks of ghost consultants who drive a prolific industry in fraudulent documents. IRCC officers are experienced in detecting fraud and non-genuine applicants, while striving to facilitate genuine visa applicants.

• The Department has made efforts to attract eligible students in Africa and therefore increase the acceptance rates, by engaging in outreach to partners as well as at public events. IRCC offices located in Africa participate to events such as EduCanada and EduQuebec and regularly host webinars to explain the study permit application process and requirements.

• The Department regularly monitors acceptance rates for Temporary Resident applications, including for international students from Africa.

• In 2018, IRCC introduced the Student Direct Stream (SDS) in Senegal and Morocco to assist students in making solid applications and demonstrating funds in a reliable way which is helping to increase the approval rate for study permits. A similar program called “Nigeria Express” has been launched for residents of Nigeria. Approval rates for students applying through this pilot are close to 50% so far in 2021 compared to approval rates below 20% in 2019.

• In addition, a pilot project is underway in Senegal to promote studies at francophone colleges and universities outside Quebec, in partnership with the Association des Collèges et Universités Francophone du Canada (ACUFC).

• Consideration is being given to expand SDS to other countries in Africa.

• IRCC facilitates the travel of genuine visitors, students and workers to Canada, based on the documents that they provide. Refusals are inevitably met with disappointment, which may lead to negative commentary about Canada or IRCC offices in Africa as elsewhere. IRCC engages in outreach to both Global Affairs Canada and other partners, as well as at public events and on social media, in order to explain visa requirements and how to apply in order to avoid disappointment.

• The onus, however, remains on applicants to establish that they are bona fide temporary residents who will leave Canada following the completion of their studies pursuant to section R216(1)(b). They are given the opportunity to present their cases by providing documentary evidence and any other relevant information to support their applications.

• With respect to concerns around potential bias in decision-making, each applicant is entitled to and receives an individualized assessment based on all of the information available on file. All applications are reviewed objectively and consistently to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all applicants. Each application is assessed on its own merit against the program requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its Regulations, and all decisions are neither discriminatory nor arbitrary. An officer’s decision is reached only after all factors pertaining to the circumstances of a case are carefully assessed, thoroughly and fairly, in accordance with the provisions of Canada’s immigration legislation. Since officers are obligated to uphold the provisions of the legislation, they cannot accept those applicants who do not meet all requirements.

• IRCC maintains quality assurance measures to achieve consistency in decision making on these applications. Additionally, the Department continues to analyze data, refine criteria, and design tools to improve decision making and ensure that genuine admissible students are able to study in Canada.

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