December 3, 2024
A program launched, December 1, 2023, by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to combat fraud in the international student sector has proven to be successful. More than 17,000 invalid letter’s of acceptance (LOAs) have been found submitted by international students applying to come to Canada.
Within the framework of this program, IRCC created a new requirement requesting all letter’s of acceptance (LOA) submitted alongside international student visa applications be verified before a visa is issued. This is the first time IRCC has required verification of LOAs, and it is proving it’s value by cutting down on the number of foreign nationals entering and remaining in Canada, that either have no intent to study, or are unaware that they haven’t been accepted entrance into the school they’ve applied to. When unchecked foreign nationals get caught in the act of misrepresentation, and enter Canada without a path forward.
On December 1, 2023, IRCC launched the LOA verification program, requiring Canada’s designated learning institutions (DLIs) to confirm the validity of every LOA submitted to IRCC in each study permit application. Under this new framework DLIs have 10 calendar days to access an online portal, verify the LOA received by IRCC is valid and that the school has accepted the student for the specific enrollment period. If the DLI fails to validate the LOA within the timeframe, or if they validate the letter of acceptance as fake, the student visa application is then cancelled and returned to the applicant, along with any processing fees they have paid.
Alongside the verification process, DLIs are also required to submit compliance reports to IRCC twice a year. Here they are confirming whether study permit holders remain enrolled in their programs. If a school fails to meet the compliance reporting requirements or fails to verify acceptance letters, it can face serious consequences. These consequences can include being suspended from admitting new international students for up to a year.
These changes come in response to past abuses of the international student system. One high profile case worth mentioning happened in 2023, when it was discovered that more than 700 Indian nationals that either had studied or were currently studying in Canada had submitted fake letters of acceptance. The LOAs had been submitted by an Indian “ghost-consultant,” hired by the students to complete their applications. In this case, the students fell victim to the “ghost consultant.” These are unlicensed immigration representatives who pose as legitimate and offer services to international students, such as helping with admission into an educational institution or assisting with a visa application. Once students pay a (usually very high) fee the consultant breaks off all communication and disappears with the money.
In June of 2023, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) was able to identify, locate and charge the ghost-consultant, Brijesh Mishra of Jalandhar, India, with IRPA Sec 91(1) unauthorized representation; IRPA Sec 124(1)(a) offence to employ a foreign national in a capacity where they are not authorized; IRPA Sec 126 counselling misrepresentation; IRPA Sec 127(a) misrepresentation (prohibits knowingly communicating false or misleading information); and IRPA Sec 127(b) misrepresentation (allows for the detention of individual who communicate false or misleading information).
As for the affected Indian nationals, the Minister at the time, Sean Faser, created a special task force to investigate each affected student and decide case-by-case if they had been victims of fraud or knowingly broke the rules (and if so they were subject to consequences, including removal from Canada).
Minister Fraser committed to deterring such fraud and ran advertisements in foreign countries explaining the need to consult with licensed individuals who vetted and trustworthy. IRCC continuously monitors fraud and creates initiatives to reduce the number of unauthorized immigrants to Canada.
What Are The Statistics?
Between December 1, 2023, when the program launched, and October 6, 2024, IRCC received nearly 529,000 letters of acceptance from foreign nationals hoping to secure a study permit in Canada. Of those letters of acceptance, IRCC successfully verified nearly 492,000, leaving more than 17,000 that either didn’t match any of the LOAs issued by the DLI’s or were LOAs that the DLI had already cancelled before the individual applied for a study permit. These numbers highlight the fraud found in the international student sector and the importance of the verification program.
How Does LOA Verification Protect International Students?
The verification process helps protect students by identifying fake or canceled LOAs before a study permit is granted and before a foreign national boards a plane to Canada. Fraudulent LOAs put students at risk of deportation if they are found to be invalid. The discovery of more than 17,000 LOAs that didn’t match a legitimate LOA from a DLI underscores the importance of the new system in safeguarding both international students and strengthening the integrity of the Canadian study permit system.
Other Measures to Support International Students
In addition to the LOA verification process, the Government of Canada has introduced several additional measures to enhance the experience of international students:
1. Increased Work Hours: International students are now permitted to work up to 24 hours per week during their studies. This change allows students to take on more shifts without negatively impacting their academic performance, as research shows that working more than 24 hours weekly can lead to higher dropout rates and academic challenges.
2. Protection from Fraudulent Institutions: To safeguard students from so-called “diploma mills,” measures such as the Provincial Attestation Letter and student permit caps have been implemented. These ensure that students enroll in accredited programs that provide genuine educational value.
3. Higher Financial Requirements: The government has raised the minimum financial threshold that international students must meet to demonstrate their ability to support themselves while studying in Canada. This change aims to help students better manage their finances and reduce financial stress during their time in the country.
These initiatives, combined with the LOA verification process, reflect Canada’s commitment to fostering a safer, more transparent, and supportive environment for international students, ensuring their academic success and well-being. while strengthening the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.
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