Canada IRCC Flags 10,000 Fake Student Acceptance Letters Amid Stricter Verification

Canada IRCC Flags 10,000 Fake Student Acceptance Letters Amid Stricter Verification

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Nov 25, 2024 04:44 PM IST

According to the Globe and Mail, Canadian Daily, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has flagged 10,000 fraudulent student acceptance letters this year. As per media reports, over 80% of these fake visas were linked with Students from India (mainly from Punjab and Gujarat). Not long after labelling nearly 1,813 student visa applications as "potentially fraudulent," the IRCC unveiled a new and more stringent verification process that started on December 1, 2023.

This Story also Contains
  1. What ignited stricter verification measures?
  2. How did the government respond?
  3. How does it impact international students?
  4. What about the Quebec Institutions?
  5. Safeguarding International Students
Canada IRCC Flags 10,000 Fake Student Acceptance Letters Amid Stricter Verification
Canada IRCC Flags 10,000 Fake Student Acceptance Letters Amid Stricter Verification

It is amid the government of Canada's continuous fight against immigration that the top officials from the IRCC recently announced they had discovered about 10,000 fake student visa applications in 2024 alone. The report also says that, after greater scrutiny and a mandate verification process, they have found out that students who have applied to study in Canada have attached a fake acceptance letter with their application.

“The revelation followed implementing stricter measures with more than 500,000 documents reviewed, 10,000 of which were fraudulent," says Brownwyn May, the director general of IRCC. 80% of these applications were linked with the students of Punjab and Gujarat.

What ignited stricter verification measures?

The crackdown is the repercussion of an incident that took place in 2023 in India, wherein an unlicensed consultant issued students fake acceptance letters, resulting in deportation risks. Soon after the incident, the Canadian government came up with tighter measures to address such serious concerns. Therefore, it has now become mandatory for international students to get their acceptance letters verified by a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) through an online portal.

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Brownwyn May, the director-general of IRCC, informed a member of the Canadian parliament committee that 2% of the acceptance letters were fraudulent, while 1% of them were cancelled applications. The Democratic Party Immigration Critic, Jenny Kwan, described all these findings as 'very alarming’. He says, “It is important to protect the international students who’ve been defrauded.”

How did the government respond?

Canada has taken this matter very seriously and come up with stricter measures for Canadian visa applications. Following are the measures to safeguard international students and the integrity of the different educational programs of universities of Canada.

  • Implementing mandatory verification through an online portal: Since December 2023, it has become mandatory for international students to get their visa applications verified by Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) through an online portal.

  • Significant permit changes: Institutions transferring students must now obtain a new permit.

  • Mandatory reporting: Now, designated learning institutions have to report enrolment twice a year, and if they do not do this, they would be suspended from giving admission to students.

How does it impact international students?

As per the IRCC, now a student who wishes to transfer institutions must obtain a new study permit. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada says, “It is a vital step to maintain the integrity of the international student program while protecting students from foreseen financial and legal vulnerabilities.”

What about the Quebec Institutions?

As of now, the designation learning institutions of Quebec have not joined the compliance reporting system, but IRCC is doing every bit to integrate them with the system. A grace period is in progress until the Quebec institutions follow the new rules and regulations.

Safeguarding International Students

Canada has always been one of the top study abroad destinations for students. Amid the ongoing tensions between students and educational institutions in Canada, the government aims to rebuild this trust again by ensuring stricter compliance with the new rules and regulations. Marc Miller, the Immigration Minister of Canada, states, “We will look into the visa application process and scrutinise each step to ensure that integrity of the educational programs and the international students is not compromised.”.

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hi ,

yes , you can pursue undergraduate degree in AI ML in Canada with 65% in 12th grade , bit your options may be limited since many top universities require a minimum of 75-70% , however with some colleges or universities with flexible admission requirements may accept you .

eligibility criteria for AI /ML in Canada

academic requirement - Most top universities require 70-80% in 12th PCM for direct admission.Some colleges/universities accept students with 60-70% in 12th PCM.

English proficiency test -

(if your schooling was in English, some institutions may waive this)

  • IELTS: 6.0 – 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)
  • TOEFL: 80 – 90 (iBT)
  • PTE: 50+

mathematics requirement

Since AI & ML are math-heavy, having good grades in Math (especially Calculus) will strengthen your application.


hope this helps


Hi Madhvi,

With 42% in 12th, admission to universities in Canada can be challenging, as most require at least 50-60%. However, you still have options:

  1. Diploma Programs – Some colleges like Seneca, Humber, or Centennial offer diploma courses with flexible entry requirements.

  2. Foundation Programs – You can take a pathway course in Canada to improve your academic profile before entering a degree program.

  3. Private Colleges – Some private institutions accept lower percentages, but research them well before applying.

  4. Improve Academics – Consider reappearing for 12th exams or taking additional certification courses to boost your profile.

Also, ensure you meet the IELTS/TOEFL score requirements for student visas.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.

After completing a BBA in Finance, top programs in Canada include MBA (Finance), Master of Finance, Master in Financial Analytics, CFA certification, or PG diplomas in Financial Planning, Investment Banking, and Risk Management. Choose based on career goals, budget, and university reputation.

Hello there,

NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is primarily an entrance exam for medical courses in India. If you're considering studying medicine in Canada, here are some key points to consider:

NEET and Medical Studies in Canada:

  1. Not Required for Admission : NEET is not required for admission to medical schools in Canada. Canadian medical schools have their own admission criteria, which typically include undergraduate degree requirements and standardized tests like the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test).

  2. Eligibility for International Students : To apply to medical schools in Canada, you usually need to complete a bachelor's degree (often with a focus on science) and achieve a good score on the MCAT.

  3. Application Process : Each Canadian medical school has specific admission requirements. It's important to research individual schools to understand their criteria, including GPA requirements, volunteer experience, letters of recommendation, and personal statements.

  4. Recognition of Indian Medical Degrees : If you complete your medical studies in Canada, your degree will be recognized, but if you study medicine in India, you’ll need to go through the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) exams to practice in Canada.

    Recommendations:

  • Research Canadian Medical Schools : Look into the specific requirements for the medical schools you are interested in.

  • Prepare for MCAT : If you're aiming for medical school in Canada, focus on preparing for the MCAT and meeting the prerequisite courses for admission.

    Conclusion:

NEET is not necessary for studying medicine in Canada. Instead, focus on completing an undergraduate degree, taking the MCAT, and meeting the admission requirements of Canadian medical schools.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.


Hello Aspirant

Foreign Universities require a candidate to have a 4-year Bachelor's degree from a recognized University/college with enough credits. The problem that many Indian students face is that they have a degree in bachelor's but in a 3-year course. This stops them from pursuing further studies at a foreign university. Still, some universities offer bridge courses for such students. For this, they need to reach their universities 2-3 months prior and do the Bridge course. But all of this depends on the university. This is why NEP introduced the new 4-year bachelor's course.

The best course of action is to go to the Canadian Universities' websites that you wish to join and contact their admissions office via mail and talk to them about your situation, they'll help you out with it. Also, when you sit for their interviews and have a valid answer for your gap year after your Bachelor's, it would be great if you have work experience for that duration.

Hope this helps.

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