Question Period Note: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International students have been impacted by processing delays due to a major increase in the volume of applications. There have also been recent media reports on student vulnerability and housing shortages, sparking concerns.

• We value the significant social, cultural and economic benefits that international students bring to Canada.

• We are reforming the International Student Program to address a number of challenges, including issues related to program integrity and student vulnerability.

• Starting January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants will be raised to ensure that international students are better prepared for life in Canada. Moving forward, this threshold will be adjusted each year.

• With the long-overdue increase to the cost-of-living threshold, students arriving in Canada will be on a stronger financial footing as they begin their studies.

• In addition we are extending to April 30, 2024 the waiver on the 20-hour-per-week limit to the number of hours international students are allowed to work off-campus while class is in session.

Other temporary policies
• The facilitative measure that has allowed international students to count time spent studying online towards the length of a future post-graduation work permit, as long as it constitutes less than 50% of the program of study, will continue to be in place for students who begin a study program before September 1, 2024.

If pressed
• These measures follow other reforms announced, including the development of a new framework to recognize learning institutions that provide top-quality services and support, including housing, to international students.
• To help protect prospective students from fraud, IRCC is implementing an enhanced letter of acceptance verification tool to systematically verify all post-secondary letters of acceptance submitted with an overseas study permit. This solution was launched on December 1, 2023.

If pressed on the Recognized Institutions Framework
• While the list of indicators is still being finalized, the proposed Recognized Institution Framework could provide priority processing of study permits for applicants accepted to DLIs that are demonstrating higher standards related to:
o Recruiting sustainably;
o Recruiting genuine students;
o Providing adequate student supports, including housing;
o Supporting equity and diversity, and
o Demonstrating strong student outcomes.

Recognized Institutions Framework

• In time for the fall 2024 semester, IRCC will adopt a new framework to recognize learning institutions that provide top-quality services, support and outcomes for international students. A “recognized institution” would benefit from, for example, priority processing for applicants who plan to study there.

• IRCC is finalizing a number of indicators that will make up the recognized institutions framework, including indicators that relate to housing and services provided to students. The proposed Recognized Institution Framework could provide priority processing of study permits for applicants accepted to DLIs that are demonstrating higher standards related to:
o Recruiting sustainably;
o Recruiting genuine students;
o Providing adequate student supports, including housing;
o Supporting equity and diversity, and
o Demonstrating strong student outcomes.

• IRCC has consulted with DLIs, provinces and territories, and national education associations, and will use the feedback to refine the planned framework as we prepare to implement it in time for the fall 2024 semester.

• As we move towards implementing the new framework next year, additional details will be shared to fully explain how institutions would become recognized and what benefits that would bring.

Letter of Acceptance Verification

• Since December 1, 2023, post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLI) are required to confirm every applicant’s letter of acceptance submitted in an overseas study permit application directly with IRCC.

• This new, enhanced verification process aims to protect prospective students from letter of acceptance fraud and to help them avoid similar problems that some students faced earlier this year as a result of fraud investigations. It also ensures that study permits are issued based only on genuine letters of acceptance.

Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP)

• In the coming months, IRCC will complete an assessment of Post-Graduation Work Permit Program criteria and begin introducing reforms to better calibrate it to meet the needs of the Canadian labour market, as well as regional and Francophone immigration goals.

Extensions for Certain Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) Holders

• Starting April 6, 2023 and expiring December 31, 2023, new temporary measures allow certain PGWP holders to opt in to a facilitative process to extend their work permit. This facilitative measure allows Canada to retain high-skilled talent.

• In addition, as part of these measures, foreign nationals whose PGWP expires between September 20, 2021, and December, 31, 2023, have the opportunity to apply for an additional 18-month open work permit. Those with expired work permits are able to restore their status, even if they are beyond the normal 90-day restoration period. Eligible foreign nationals under this facilitative measure are also issued an interim work authorization which allows them to continue working immediately while they apply for and await processing of their new work permit application.

• Talented and skilled international graduates play a vital role in addressing Canada’s labour shortage, and those nearing the end of their PGWP are already well-integrated into Canada’s labour market. The additional open work permit will allow eligible applicants to continue contributing to the Canadian economy while gaining valuable work experience and preparing for the opportunity to apply for permanent residence.

PGWP Facilitation for Distance Learning

• During the pandemic, several measures were put in place to facilitate distance learning without impacting PGWP eligibility.

• Until September 1, 2024, time spent studying outside Canada will not be deducted from the length of a future PGWP as long as at least 50% of the program of study is completed in Canada. This measure went into effect in August 2022 as a transition from facilitation measures put in place during the height of the pandemic which allowed 100% of the program of study to be completed abroad while remaining eligible for PGWP.

Update on Processing

• The Department is seeing an ever-increasing demand for studying in Canada, resulting in growing processing pressures:

IRCC processed 922,900 study permits between January and October 2023, up from about 746,500 during the same period in 2022. Study permits continue to be processed within service standards.

International Student Volumes and Housing

• With approximately 807,260 total valid study permit holders at the end of 2022, we have reached an all-time high for the number of international students in Canada.

• Housing is a service that many designated learning institutions in Canada provide, but is not an element for decision in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or Regulations (which provide the legal framework for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)'s decision making on study permits for international students).

• IRCC is currently reviewing the International Student Program to address pressures it is facing, and is considering a number options to ensure that international students are well-supported while in Canada. The Department will continue to work closely with provinces and territories, national educations institutions and other key partners in deliberations on alternatives, and will announce any changes once decisions have been made and are ready to be implemented.

Anti-Racism Priorities
• IRCC is committed to a fair and non-discriminatory immigration system and is working to address the CIMM recommendations.
• In response to the CIMM report on the Differential Treatment in Recruitment and Acceptance Rates of Foreign Students, IRCC has taken steps to address study permit refusal rates and is exploring new measures that would increase equitable access to the International Student Program for certain underrepresented client groups.
• IRCC is currently refining and developing options on potential pilots to remove systemic barriers, address refusal rates, and promote diversification of the International Students Program.
• IRCC will continue to consult with PTs as we advance these pilots.
• Initiatives to fight unconscious biases and racism have already been taken: unconscious bias training for decision-makers; provision of Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Anti-Bias workshops; exploring the possibility of further research on racial discrimination of Black immigrants as it relates to their immigration journey; and working on a Gender-Based Plus Analysis of Chinook and the International Student Program.

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