Introduction of New Requirements
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has upheld new requirements for international students entering undergraduate and college-level programs, despite calls from stakeholders to postpone the provincial attestation letter mandate.
Exemptions from Attestation Letters
In its latest communication, IRCC stated that provincial attestation letters will not be required for primary and secondary school students, master’s or doctoral students, visiting or exchange program participants, existing study permit and work permit holders, and their accompanying family members. Applications filed before 8:30 a.m. ET on January 22 of this year will likewise be exempt from the attestation letter requirement.
Stakeholders request a delay
In a letter they sent last week, CiCan and Universities Canada requested that the federal immigration minister postpone the requirement for an attestation letter until at least March 31. According to the IRCC, the attestation verifies that students were accommodated in a provincial or territorial allocation within the national cap.
The deadline for planning and implementing
Provinces and territories must plan these messages by March 31. These letters are required for most post-secondary study permit and non-degree graduate program applicants.
Fairness and Allocation Caps
In response to The PIE News earlier last week, an IRCC representative advocated for provincial and territorial restrictions to promote fairness, especially in jurisdictions with unsustainable international student growth. Provinces and territories are debating the allocation of study permits for 2024, anticipating a total of 360,000. The BC post-secondary education ministry can process 83,000 study permit applications, which could result in 50,000 study permits this year. Population sharing dominates discussions between provinces and territories, but not entirely.
Impacts on Various Provinces
Alex Usher of Higher Education Strategy Associates has identified British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island as areas where schools may lose funds. Predictions indicate that Newfoundland, Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Alberta will surpass the current visa intake, while New Brunswick and Manitoba will maintain a balance between the current seats and the new cap. According to the IRCC, provinces and territories distribute the cap to designated learning institutions.
Changes to Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Eligibility
In addition, the Immigration and Refugee Commission (IRCC) announced that graduates of master’s degree programs that continue for less than two years and who satisfy all other eligibility requirements for the Post-Graduation Work Visa (PGWP) will be eligible to acquire a three-year work visa beginning on February 15. For non-master’s programs, PGWP durations will match the program’s length up to three years.
Eligibility Adjustments for Public-Private Partnership Colleges
IRCC also stated that new students enrolled in public-private partnership colleges will no longer be eligible for post-graduation work permits, but current students will remain eligible if they match other program conditions.
Open Work Permits for Spouses and Partners
In the coming weeks, only wives and common-law partners of international master’s, doctoral, and professional degree students will receive open work permits.
