According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a total of 7,528 study permit applications from India were rejected by Canadian authorities between January 2018 and May 2023 due to the inclusion of misrepresentations, false or altered documents.
Earlier this year, a total of 595 applications from Indian students, including extensions, were rejected till May 31, according to data shared with IANS. In a single month, 195 cases of misrepresentation were reported. Misrepresentation includes untrue, misleading or incomplete information. A spokesperson for the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi told: “The Government of Canada takes any form of citizenship or immigration fraud very seriously. We are committed to upholding our immigration rules and protecting our systems against fraud and misrepresentation.” committed to.”
According to statistics, most of the applications were rejected under A40(1)(a). In Canadian immigration law, misrepresentation is defined in section 40(1)(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Examples of misrepresentation include not mentioning a family member, not mentioning a change in family status; or providing, among other things, false documentation declaring employment experience.
Recently, hundreds of Indian students faced expulsion from Canada after the documents submitted in their study permit applications were found to be falsified. Recognizing the contribution of international students, Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced that temporary resident permits would be issued to genuine students. The minister emphasized that the focus is on identifying those who are responsible for the fraud and not on punishing those who may have been affected by the fraud.
The Canadian High Commission also told that the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Citizenship Act require that those who provide paid immigration or citizenship advice or representation be “authorized”. High Commission spokesperson said. With 226,450 students, India is set to account for the largest number of new international students arriving in the North American nation in 2022, according to IRCC data released this year.
The country’s primary immigration department announced that last year 35 per cent of all study permit holders was Indian citizens. Home to the largest Punjabi diaspora in the world, Canada is the most preferred destination for students from Punjab, who make up about 70 per cent of the Indian group in Canada. The Canadian Study Visa provides these students with an easy path to permanent residency within five to six years.
