Canada has ended the Fast Track Study Visa program for international students effective immediately. This is likely to affect many international students, including those from India. The processing time for students applying under Student Direct Stream (SDS) was extremely short, while the acceptance rate was very high. However, Canada has put an end to this plan.
In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Twitter that this year we will grant 35 percent fewer international student visas and next year this number will be further reduced by 10 percent. Immigration is beneficial to our economy, but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we take action. He said he is considering reducing the number of temporary residents.
This step was taken amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada. According to the Indian High Commission, India is the largest country of origin for foreign students; An estimated 427,000 Indian students study in Canada.
A statement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said we are committed to providing all international students with equal and fair access to the study visa application process. The statement also says that Canada’s goal is to strengthen the integrity of the Fast Track Study Visa Program and provide equality in the application process for all students.
