CIMM – Fact Sheet – June 14, 2023

One pager: Large Scale Investigations of fraud in the International Student Program

Issue: 

Ongoing media reports of international students and graduates in Canada who were issued study permits based on fraudulent documents, and who are now being investigated with the possible outcome of being removed from Canada.

On March 14, 2023, a blogger writing for India Narrative, an online newspaper out of Chandigarh India, falsely reported that the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) had issued deportation notices to over 700 Indian students whose letters of acceptance to educational institutions in Canada were found to be fake.

Although these numbers are not accurate, IRCC and the CBSA have linked them to three joint investigations into organized fraud in the international student program (given the maturity of the investigations and the cases involved). The cases involve specific unauthorized consultants submitting fraudulent letters of acceptance from various Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) in Canada in support of their clients’ study permit applications.

The cases were identified via tips and intelligence probes conducted by the CBSA. Over 2000 cases were initially examined. Cases included foreign nationals from India, Vietnam and Peoples’ Republic of China, but are predominately Indian nationals.

Cases of interest were narrowed to 1,485 Study Permit applicants: 

• 976 applications were refused;
• 36 applications are in progress, 25 applications were closed for “other reasons” (abandoned or withdrawn); and
• 448 applications were approved (possible number of students in Canada).

At the moment, the Task Force plans on reviewing approximately 300 cases of interest.

• 82 referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) for an Admissibility Hearing.
  • 52 removal orders issued by the IRB (CBSA pausing removals pending Task Force review).
    • 8 individuals have been removed.
• 10 voluntarily departed prior to referral to the IRB.
• [redacted]
• [redacted]

The most common DLIs fraudulently declared on these Study Permit applications were located in Ontario, British Colombia, Québec and Manitoba. (See below Annex A for full list).

Annex A

ABC Access Business College
Fanshawe College
College of the North Atlantic
Collège Avalon
Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology College Drive Campus North Bay ON
Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology
Montreal College of Information Technology
Centennial College
St Clair College
Collège CDI Administration Technologie Santé CDI College Business Technology Health Care
Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology
Coquitlam College
Hanson College
Academy of Learning College - Toronto
Collège Canada inc
The Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
Algonquin College at CDI College Business Technology and Healthcare
Capilano University
Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning Humber Lakeshore Campus
George Brown College
Yorkville University - Toronto Film School
Yorkville University
Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology
University Canada West
City University of Seattle
Conestoga College
Red River College Polytechnic
Lambton College
Cape Breton University
Academy of Learning College - Kingston
Fanshawe College at ILAC International College
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Georgian College at ILAC International College
Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology
British Columbia Institute of Technology
University of Lethbridge
Niagara College Canada
Northern College
Assiniboine Community College at Robertson College
Alexander College
Trent University
The Algonquin College of Applied Learning and Technology
Columbia College
Fleming College at Trebas Institute Ontario Inc
Loyalist College at Toronto Business College
Niagara College Canada at Toronto school of Management
Vancouver Community College
Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology at triOS College Business Technology Healthcare Inc
St Lawrence College
CodeCore
Pacific Link College
Northeastern University - ON
Lakehead University
North Island College
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
University of Windsor
Portage College
Canadian College
Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology
Okanagan College
Collège national de science et technologie
Douglas College
Collège de gestion technologie et santé Matrix
CareerQuest Inc
Fleming College
Acsenda School of Management
Primary School
Brock University
Liaison College - Brampton
Fraser International College
University of Regina including Campion College First Nations University of Canada and Luther Colle
Ashton College
Collège CDI Administration - Technologie Santé
BITTS International Career College
Brighton College
Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles
Langara College
MLC College of Business Technology and Healthcare
Concordia University of Edmonton
Evergreen College
Bay River College
Algoma University
Eastview College Business Health Technology