Marc Miller recently revealed that college and undergraduate students will get 292000 study permits. IRCC implemented a cap on study permit applications, around 360,000. This means only this fixed number of applications could be approved as of January 22 this year. The limitation on study permit applications was an attempt to restrict unsustainable growth through a reduction of 35 percent for study permits over the next two years. This concerned the International Student Program, and IRCC was working to enhance the entire system’s integrity.
The clarity for students about the study permits to be approved in 2024
The Globe and Mail further revealed that in the initial estimate of the 2024 new approved study permits, IRCC had also included cap-exempt study permits. Hence, now only 292,000 study permits will be approved this year for college and undergraduate students.
Marc Miller has no legal authority to limit the number of visas granted. Also, he has limited authority to control the quantity of applications. He further revealed during a meeting that IRCC only decides on approval or denial at its level. However, the calculation functions by producing a significant amount of visas. Moreover, they capped the intake of applications at a certain level, dispersing it across Canada based on population.
Additionally, Marc Miller’s instructions to fix the number for processing study permit applications didn’t include the primary, secondary school, master’s, and doctorate level university programs. The number was fixed at 606,250 permits. As a result, it would lead to nearly 360,000 approved study permits this year. This was keeping in mind the average approval rate of 60 percent.
However, this is contrary to the report by Globe and Mail, which states that IRCC has decided to approve 292,000 new permits for college and undergraduate students.
Additionally, the department didn’t reveal the processing limit at that point, considering students who would not be affected by this limit. This includes master’s, elementary, and high school students.
College and undergraduate students to get 292000 study permits – What could be the process of implementing the study permit cap in Canada?
IRCC offers the provincial governments the opportunity to implement the study permit cap. As a result, provincial governments provide qualifying international students (those who can study at a DLI) with a Provincial Attestation Letter in their jurisdiction. Also, these letters indicate to IRCC that the approved student has legal authority under their school’s province or territory to contribute toward distributing the province’s study permit.
A DLI refers to the schools with legal permission to accept international students. According to the minister’s recent instructions, the provincial or territorial governments must write and sign the PAL. These letters must consist of the following details of an applicant:
- Full name;
- Birth Date; and
- Address
The new system indicates that the study permit applicants will now require a combination of PAL and a Letter of Acceptance to apply for a study permit to IRCC. However, earlier, the applicants had to simply apply for an LOA. The number of distributions that a province or territory receives will rely on separate population numbers.
So far, only Alberta and British Columbia have implemented the PALs for students. Both provinces will enable students to attain PALs via their Designated Learning Institutions. However, this applies to the provincial governments once the candidates meet all necessary criteria.
The federal government has fixed a deadline for all provincial governments, and they must establish and execute the delivery of PALs by March 31, 2024.
Do you have any general queries or concerns regarding the Canadian study permit process? Let our expert guides at Make Home Canada help you get all the answers. We are just a call away; stay connected at 1-800-979-0509 or simply email your concerns to [email protected].
