CIMM – Preventing Bad Actors in the International Student Program – June 14, 2023

Date: June 14, 2023
Classification:
Department: IRCC

Issue:

CIMM Ministerial Appearance on the Exploitation Scheme Targeting Certain International Students

Proposed Response:

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is aware that some organizations and individuals seek to exploit international students for their own financial gain. These unethical actors tarnish Canada’s reputation as a leader in international education.
• IRCC takes the wellbeing and protection of international students seriously and is working diligently to ensure that unscrupulous actors are eliminated from the Program.
• IRCC is actively looking to improve and add to its existing tools. However, the regime for designating educational institutions rests with provinces and territories.
• In light of our shared concerns for student well-being, IRCC has been engaging with provinces and territories to explore measures to strengthen protections for students and authorize stronger action against bad actors at the provincial and federal levels.

If pressed:

• IRCC is reviewing the International Student Program and wrapped up consultations with provinces and territories on June 7, 2023.
• Feedback from provinces and territories will be incorporated in IRCC’s proposed options on Program design, including measures that will specifically target unscrupulous recruiters and institutions.

Contact:
Cynthia Ralickas
A/ Director General, Social and Temporary Migration Branch
Tel. No.: 613-404-6607

Approved by:
Marian Campbell Jarvis
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy
Tel. No.: 613-437-6752

Background:

Media Reporting and Ongoing Investigations

• Media attention has focused on the deportation of international students from India who were issued study permits on the basis of fraudulent letters of acceptance, otherwise known as “700 Indian Students.”
• While some students appear to have been aware and actively participated, others may have unknowingly engaged unscrupulous actors.

Program Integrity Measures

Letters of Acceptance (LOAs) Verification

• IRCC currently has several layers of verification to ensure that fraudulent products and integrity trends are identified, including [Redacted]
• IRCC continues to work to strengthen program integrity and enhance protections to address student vulnerability and unethical recruitment and eliminate non-genuine actors in the program.
• To increase the integrity of the program and to help protect vulnerable students from nefarious actors, IRCC will begin to implement an in-house IT based tool [Redacted]

Compliance Reporting

• IRCC has in place program integrity measures and resources that monitor the compliance of individuals with the conditions of their study permits, and to investigate cases of large scale facilitated fraud.
• All designated learning institutions (DLIs) at the post-secondary level, with the exception of institutions located in Quebec, must complete regular reports on the academic enrolment status of their international students and submit these reports to IRCC.
• Reporting is scheduled for every April and November, and DLIs have 60 days to complete and submit the compliance report.
• Enrollment information allows IRCC to assess whether study permit holders in Canada continue to meet their study permit conditions, including whether they are actively pursuing their course or program of study at a DLI. Students who do not comply with these study permit conditions can be subject to a removal order.

International Student Program Review

• As part of a review of the International Student Program, IRCC has engaged multilaterally with provincial and territorial ministries of education and immigration to discuss potential measures to address problematic DLIs and unethical student recruitment.
• IRCC has consulted with provinces and territories and is currently awaiting written feedback from provinces and territories to incorporate in options to the Minister.
• Any options put forward by IRCC will involve close collaboration with provinces, territories, institutions, and other stakeholders and will take firm action to ensure that students are protected from unscrupulous third party actors.