Indian Students Account for Significant Portion of No-Shows in Canada
In March and April 2024, nearly 50,000 international students in Canada were reported as “no-shows” at colleges and universities. Among these, Indian students made up a large portion, with about 20,000 failing to attend their designated institutions. This represents 5.4% of the total number of Indian students tracked by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Overall Non-Compliance Rates Among International Students
In total, 6.9% of all study permit holders in Canada were found to be non-compliant. The data was collected under the International Student Compliance Regime, which requires educational institutions to report enrollments twice a year to ensure adherence to study permits.
Non-Compliance Rates Vary by Country
Non-compliance rates differed widely depending on the country of origin. For instance, 2.2% of students from the Philippines and 6.4% from China were marked as no-shows. On the other hand, countries like Iran (11.6%) and Rwanda (48.1%) showed significantly higher non-compliance rates.
Investigation Into Alleged Illegal Migration Links
Indian law enforcement is investigating possible connections between Canadian colleges and entities in India accused of aiding illegal migration across the Canada-U.S. border. Some Indian students allegedly used study permits to enter Canada and cross into the U.S. illegally. Immigration expert Henry Lotin suggested that many non-compliant Indian students likely stayed in Canada and sought work while attempting to secure permanent residency.
Proposed Solutions to Prevent Abuse of the System
The issue has drawn attention to gaps in the system, with experts like Lotin proposing that international students should pay their fees upfront to prevent misuse. Immigration Minister Marc Miller has recently introduced stricter regulations, including penalties for institutions that fail to report enrollment accurately.
Discrepancies in Student Visa Data
Concerns have also been raised about discrepancies between Statistics Canada’s estimates of over one million valid student visa holders and the lower numbers reported by IRCC based on enrollment data. This gap has led to questions about the actual number of unaccounted students in Canada.
Call for Transparency and Stricter Regulations
Experts are calling for greater transparency and better data collection to address these issues. Additionally, Canadian immigration lawyers are advocating for restrictions on the use of foreign consultants in student visa applications to curb fraudulent practices.