“The department accepts all of the auditor’s recommendations,” stated Immigration Minister Lena Diab, highlighting the government’s commitment to addressing concerns raised in a recent audit of the International Student Program.
The audit revealed that the Immigration Department is struggling to keep up with the demand for investigations into student visa holders. In 2023 and 2024, approximately 150,000 cases were flagged for potential non-compliance with study permits, yet only about 4,000 investigations were launched by the federal government.
Of those investigations, 1,600 were deemed inconclusive because the students did not respond to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This situation raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the current oversight mechanisms.
Despite having a budget to conduct around 2,000 investigations annually until 2028, the department has not been able to keep pace with the flagged cases. Minister Diab noted that “this lack of action is a source of serious concern,” emphasizing the need for reform.
The report also highlighted that 92% of problematic visa holders have applied for other immigration status to remain in Canada, indicating a trend where many students do not leave the country after their visas expire. In fact, only about 16,000 of the expired 2024 student visa holders actually left Canada.
Approval rates for new student visas have also seen a decline, with the study permit approval rate dropping to 58% in 2023 from 54% in 2022. All provinces reported larger-than-anticipated declines in study permit approvals for 2024.
Minister Diab mentioned that “the report captures only the first 18 months of a broader multi-year reform effort that runs through 2027,” indicating that the government is aware of the issues and is working towards solutions.
However, the Immigration Department has expressed uncertainty regarding the reasons behind the dropping approval rates, leaving many questions unanswered. Details remain unconfirmed.
