'Beginning of the end for Indian immigration?' Canada tweaks visa norms, desi students protest

For Indian students wanting the clamour for a global degree has been growing. Overseas education promises intensive courses, decent job opportunities, and an improved quality of life. Canada, for a long time, has scored high in all the departments, and this has seen a queue of Indians wanting to study, and subsequently, work there.

However, recent changes in the country's immigration policies may throw a spanner in the works for young Indians wanting to stud and work there.

The uncertainty of the situation spilled over on to Reddit where a heated conversation followed on the future of the international students in the country, with some even going as far as implying if this would sign the death knell for Indian immigration to Canada.

Ysk: Indian students are protesting in Canada against new immigration regulations.
byu/Naansense23 inIndians_StudyAbroad

In the comments, one mentioned: "The recent Indian students in Canada (last five-ten years or so) had no plan, no goal, no research done. They are also not academically talented and often don't have good background. The situation is actually horrible in Canada as far as mass immigration, and the Canadian citizens are fed up. Indian students can protest but they don't have same rights as citizens and even then, ultimately, if they cannot find jobs, they should leave Canada anyway. No point to stay in Canada just to work at Tim Hortons."

Another person described this as a natural consequence, arguing that when people from a single state dominate cities and companies, resentment is inevitable.

Another commented that this could happen in the US as well, claiming that "the 3-year STEM extension is a prime target for Trump and friends."

Someone else suggested that students should only consider going to Canada if they're attending a top-tier university, dismissing the others as "diploma mills and consultancies whose only job is to collect visa/PR money."

Agreeing, another added that the real problem lies with consultancies and agencies that lure students to Canada with false promises, the flawed Canadian immigration system that approves such applications and drains students of their money, and the Indian government's failure to provide meaningful job opportunities. "If everyone wants to leave India by hook or crook then there is massive problem Indian Government is failing to address," they remarked.

Indians in Canada: A look at the growing numbers

According to a Forbes report, the number of Indians immigrating to Canada has more than quadrupled since 2013.

A National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) analysis reveals that between 2013 and 2023, the number of Indians moving to Canada surged from 32,828 to 139,715 ¡ª an increase of 326%.

Additionally, Indian enrollment in Canadian universities has increased over the last two decades, growing by more than 5,800% from 2,181 students in 2000 to 128,928 in 2021.

Last year, Indian students made up the largest segment of Canada's international student population, accounting for 37 per cent.

Also read: Considering studying abroad? Viral video of Indian students in a job queue in Canada will make you think twice

Credit: Pexels

How recent changes in Canada's immigration policies would impact Indian students

These are the recent changes in Canada's immigration policies:

• To manage the influx of international students, who made up 37% of study visa holders in 2023, the Canadian government has imposed a cap on new study permit applications. This restriction is expected to lead to around 360,000 approved study permits in 2024, a 35% drop from the previous year.
• Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, also announced that foreign nationals will no longer be allowed to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the border, a move aimed at curbing "flagpoling," a practice where temporary residents leave and re-enter Canada to fast-track their permit applications.
• In addition, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced plans to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers in low-wage jobs.

How Indian students have been reacting

Indian students are protesting across Canada against the Canadian government's decision to restrict study permits and work permits.

Credit: X/ @Protest_pei

Students have even organised rallies in various provinces such as Prince Edward Island (PEI), Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.

In PEI, students have even rallied outside the legislative assembly for over three months in protest.

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