Major media outlets in India have reported this week that numerous international students in Canada have been asked by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to resubmit critical documents. These include study permits, visas, and even educational records such as attendance and marks.
The Times of India highlighted that these emails caused panic, particularly among students holding valid visas for up to two years.
โI was shocked when I received the email,โ shared a student. โMy visa is valid until 2026, yet I was asked to submit all my documents again. They even requested proof of attendance, marks, and details about my part-time work.โ
Reports also indicated that many students, particularly from Punjab, a region contributing significantly to Canadaโs Indian student cohort, were instructed to visit IRCC offices in person for credential verification.
IRCCโs Clarification
Amid concerns over reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is asking international students to resubmit important documents, the department has reiterated that the process is โnot new”.https://t.co/f5ngHEhpRI
โ The PIE News (@ThePIENews) December 19, 2024
IRCC has stated that these emails are not specifically targeting Indian students.
โStudents from any country could receive these letters. However, since India is the top source of international students in Canada, a higher number of emails were sent to Indian nationals,โ an IRCC spokesperson told The PIE News.
The department further clarified that this process is not new and is carried out randomly to confirm studentsโ enrollment status.
Verification Process Explained
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The IRCC spokesperson explained that requested documents include current or past transcripts to verify compliance with student requirements. Once verified, students meeting the conditions of their permit can continue their studies in Canada.
The latest study permit conditions require students to:
- Be enrolled in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
- Actively pursue studies (full-time or part-time).
- Avoid unauthorized leaves exceeding 150 days.
- Extend their permit when changing schools.
- Leave Canada upon permit expiry.
Impact of Previous Scams
This resubmission process may stem from last yearโs fake admission letter scam, during which many students unknowingly entered Canada with fraudulent documents.
Hundreds of these students later protested after receiving deportation notices. The IRCC paused deportations temporarily and reviewed each case with the Canada Border Services Agency.
Brijesh Mishra, the agent responsible for these fraudulent letters, has since been sentenced to three years in jail in Canada.
A Canadian university representative explained that the current measures aim to prevent similar incidents: โThe verification of documents is crucial following last yearโs scams. This is not targeting Indian students specifically.โ
Numbers Behind Document Verification
Since 2015, Canadian post-secondary DLIs have been required to report the enrollment status of international students twice yearly under the international student compliance regime.
In 2024, IRCC flagged over 10,000 international student acceptance letters as potentially fraudulent. The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) verification process played a key role in identifying these cases. Below is a summary of the verification efforts:
The IRCC spokesperson emphasized the importance of these measures: โThis helps deter fraud, protect prospective students, and ensure study permits are issued based on genuine LOAs.โ
Consequences of Fraudulent Documents
Fraudulent or invalid documents can have severe consequences, including potential inadmissibility to Canada. However, genuine students identified through reviews may be granted temporary resident permits, and misrepresentation findings may not affect future applications.
By tightening verification protocols, Canada aims to uphold the integrity of its immigration system and protect its reputation as a leading destination for international education.
