Immigration minister announces new rules to curb international student fraud schemes | CityNews Calgary

Colleges and universities that subject acceptance letters to worldwide college students should affirm all of them with the federal immigration division as Canada strikes to crack down on fraud.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller introduced the brand new guidelines Friday following an investigation this summer season into greater than 100 circumstances involving pretend admission letters.

The division launched a process pressure in June to analyze a scheme that dates again to 2017, which noticed immigration brokers subject pretend acceptance letters to get worldwide college students into Canada.

Of the 103 circumstances reviewed to date, roughly 40 per cent of scholars seemed to be in on the scheme, whereas the remaining have been victims of it.

“The use of fraudulent admissions letters has been a major concern for my department this year and continues to pose a serious threat to the integrity of our student program,” Miller mentioned at a press convention at Sheraton College in Brampton, Ont. Friday.

International college students are to not blame, he mentioned.

Miller mentioned he additionally plans to arrange a system to acknowledge post-secondary faculties which have increased requirements for providers, helps and outcomes for worldwide college students in time for the subsequent fall semester.

The requirements may additionally embrace ensuring accepted college students have entry to sufficient housing.

“Our goal here is to punish the bad actors to make sure that they are held accountable, and reward the good actors who provide adequate outcomes for the success of international students,” the minister mentioned.

Details about how precisely acknowledged faculties and establishments would profit underneath the brand new system will likely be launched later, the minister mentioned. As an instance, he mentioned candidates for these faculties could be prioritized in the case of processing their research permits.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 27, 2023

Laura Osman, The Canadian Press