International students in B.C. now get Provincial Attestation Letters from March 4, 2024. They will now need to submit the Provincial Attestation Letters with their study permit applications.
This step demonstrates their acceptance within the distribution limits under a Designated Learning Institution. British Columbia’s government confirms that the provincial government grants these letters to institutions. Furthermore, these institutions issue letters to international students.
International students in B.C. now get Provincial Attestation Letters
British Columbia confirms that IRCC has granted it an overall distribution of 83,000 undergraduate study permit applications. In addition, B.C. states that the federal government anticipates the outcome to rise to 50,000 approved study permits this year. The federal government comprehended this per the former acceptance percentage.
Compared to the previous year, there were about 97,000 study permit applications in British Columbia for undergraduate programs. This outcome further led to an overall 60,000 approved study permits.
According to B.C., 53 percent of PAL will apply to public post-secondary institutions. Meanwhile, the remaining 47 percent will apply to private institutions. This data indicates 27 percent fewer study permit applications for private institutions compared to last year. However, the province believes this is a way to combat unsustainable growth.
This PAL system in British Columbia is the first to be launched since the release of the study permit cap by IRCC for 2024. The remaining provinces must adhere to the same system per the deadline of March 31, 2024.
IRCC’s limitation on study permit applications
Last year, on January 22, the immigration department stated that it would grant up to 360,000 new study permits this year. This indicates a decline of 35 percent for the levels of 2023.
The limitation on study permit numbers doesn’t influence the renewal of study permits. The same applies to master’s or doctoral degrees.
IRCC had initially announced that it would allocate study permits to provinces based on their respective population. Statistics Canada data concerning the population states that B.C. is densely populated, ranking third, with nearly 5.6 million individuals.
Besides the study permit cap, the province also declared the eligibility requirements for Post-Graduation Work Permits. It also revealed the criteria concerning the forthcoming changes to the Spousal Open Work Permits. Primarily, the spouses of the international students seeking an undergraduate program will now be ineligible for SOWP. However, this measure has yet to come into action.
Study permit cap by Marc Miller
Marc Miller executed the study permit cap after exhibiting multiple comments on the unsustainability of the international student program in Canada. More than a million study permits existed in the country last year. This was the peak time in Canada concerning the availability of affordable housing. Consequently, numerous international students are residing in pathetic circumstances due to their homelessness.
The immigration minister shared his disbelief that provinces are only concerned about producing diplomas. He added that this in no way seems to be a respectable academic experience for international students.
The immigration minister states that even while international students paid a considerably higher tuition fee than domestic students, they were not getting proper help due to the permissible DLI models in some regions. IRCC believes that the study permit limitation will emphasize bad actors within the system, thereby reducing their financial source.
International Student Program in B.C. – The other important updates
According to British Columbia, the cap must affect private institutions massively as they usually have supervision compared to public institutions. Additionally, in 2024, the province initially launched its distinct initiatives to fight the unsustainable growth of B.C.’s international student program.
For instance, B.C. is temporarily halting the approval of new post-secondary institutions. These institutions look forward to admitting international students until February 2026. According to the province, it will assure private degree programs to fulfill high-end approval levels. This implies that the private degree programs must satisfy the following standards regarding approval:
- Increased eligibility requirements of evaluation for degree quality.
- Proven labor market requirements for graduates.
- Adequate resources and student help.
- Additional new minimum language criteria for private institution students.
Overall, all the above measures will ensure that international students in B.C. will be able to access an enhanced life.
If you have questions regarding the provincial immigration process, you can access all relevant details through Make Home Canada’s immigration consultants. Write to us at [email protected]
