Canada Visa Breach: 47,000 Foreign Students at Risk

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has reported that more than 47,000 international students, approximately 8% of the total student population, may be violating the terms of their study permits. These students are potentially not attending classes as required by their visa conditions.

Aiesha Zafar, Assistant Deputy Minister for Migration Integrity at IRCC, informed the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration that 47,175 individuals who entered Canada as students are potentially "non-compliant." This figure is based on reports from Canadian post-secondary institutions indicating that they have lost track of these students.

Zafar emphasized that these are initial findings, and further investigation is needed to determine the full extent of non-compliance. She noted that locating and removing non-compliant visa holders is the responsibility of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which shares data with IRCC but faces challenges in tracking individuals who may not be attending classes.

The issue of non-compliance has raised concerns among lawmakers. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner questioned IRCC officials on how they plan to "track and remove" students who violate their visa conditions. She also issued a summons for Dr. John Tibbetts, president of Conestoga College, to testify before the committee regarding the treatment of foreign students at the institution.

This development highlights the challenges Canada faces in managing its international student program and ensuring that students adhere to the terms of their study permits.