Canada Ends Conversion of Study Permit to PR for International Students

Protest by International Students in Canada

In response to the new immigration policies, an increasing number of international students in Canada are united in protest and demand the automated Canada PR or their permit extension.

Minister Miller explained that by adding that international students have the right to protest in a democratic country. However, Canada immigration is prioritizing the maintenance of order and balance. He emphasizes that students coming to Canada with study permits should not assume they will be guaranteed permanent residency, clarifying that there is a big difference between a study permit and a residence permit.

What is Student Direct Stream (SDS)?

In 2018, the Canadian government launched the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program for international students. Under this scheme, the study permit applications are processed within 20 days for eligible students from 14 nations.

Later on, the SDS scheme was extended and offered due to some political tensions to students coming from India, China, Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam. Miller emphasized that the government of Canada wants to ensure that the visas offered to nationals of other countries are aligned with the country's safety and diplomatic priorities.

Work Permit Extension

The majority of international students’ postgraduate work permits (PGWPs) are about to expire hence the demand for their extension by students. The Canadian government will not provide any automatic extension to these students, says Minister Miller.

He added that some students might need to face difficult choices about staying or leaving Canada. There is a need to align the work permits with the Canadian labour market requirements by the government. Hereby, the government has taken applicable measures to decrease the temporary residents such as international students for effective management of the flow. The Canadian government plans to cut PR by over 20% following the latest policy on reduction in the quota.

Explore: Post Study Work Visa in Canada for international students

Managing Asylum Claims

There is a matter of concern as said by Miller as increasing Asylum claims in Canada are getting registered, especially from students. Some of these students are exploiting asylum claims and using this policy as a last attempt to stay in Canada. He then highlights the need to maintain the credibility of Canada's Refugee Act.

To manage the immigration system effectively and efficiently, cooperation between federal, provincial, and educational institutions is quite required that meet the country’s labour market and socio-economic needs. He emphasizes creating a system that addresses these needs without affecting the overall immigration framework.

New policies on permanent residency for international students aim to assess their impact and alignment with Canada's long-run strategy to attract and retain global talent.

Check out: Permanent Residency in Canada for International Students