Canada Study Visas Raise Serious Concerns !

A recent report by the Auditor General of Canada has raised serious concerns over student visa approvals, especially involving applicants from India. While the number of Indian students applying for studies in Canada has declined, approval rates have surprisingly increased. The report highlights that despite identifying high risks of fraudulent applications, approval rates under the Student Direct Stream rose sharply from 61% in 2022 to 98% in 2024.

Authorities found multiple irregularities, including fake documents, non-genuine students, and cases of asylum misuse. Between 2023 and 2024, over 1,50,000 potential non-compliance cases were flagged, but only around 4,000 were investigated due to limited resources. The report also revealed that about 800 permits issued between 2018 and 2023 involved false information, yet nearly 92% of applications were approved. Officials have now decided to implement stricter risk assessments and monitoring measures to prevent misuse in the future.