Indians will be affected, Canada discontinues student visa scheme beginning immediately

Canada discontinues student visa scheme: Canada has ended its Student Direct Stream (SDS) program which was super popular among Indian students for faster study permit processing. As of today, students from India and 13 other countries who were earlier getting faster application processing through SDS will now have to apply through Canada’s regular study permit process.

The program was launched in 2018 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to simplify the visa application process for students from 14 countries – China, India, Morocco, Pakistan and more.

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SDS was launched in 2018 to fast track eligible post-secondary students. It was later opened to residents of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Vietnam.

A statement issued by IRCC said, “Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits.”

SDS was launched in 2018 to fast track eligible post-secondary students. It was later opened to residents of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Vietnam.

IRCC also announced the closure of the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) stream for study permit applicants from Nigeria.

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Applications received before the program’s cut off at 2.00 pm ET on November 8 will still be processed under SDS or NSE rules. Future applications will go through the regular stream which allows use of a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) for financial proof but does not guarantee fast track processing.

As a result of the closure, students will face a longer visa process. In a big policy shift, Canada will reduce its annual immigration intake for the first time in years. This is as the unpopular government struggles to stay popular.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September had announced on X: “We're granting 35 per cent fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number's going down by another 10 per cent.” “Immigration is an advantage for our economy - but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down,” he added in the post as the Canadian government said it was looking to reduce the number of temporary residents.

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