Canada Sees Surge in Asylum Applications from International Students

By Kai November 22, 2024
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Ottawa, Canada – Nearly 14,000 international students have applied for asylum in Canada during the first nine months of 2024, marking a 14% increase compared to the previous year. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), these applications reflect global trends driven by rising conflicts and crises.

Students on study permits filed most asylum claims, while around 1,500 came from those on permit extensions. Countries with the highest claims include India, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller has raised concerns about fraudulent practices in asylum applications. In a letter to the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), Miller praised efforts to shut down unauthorised consultants but highlighted issues of unethical advice leading students to misrepresent claims. He called for stricter oversight of licensed consultants involved in such activities.

Miller also noted that some students file asylum claims soon after arriving in Canada, citing reasons like lowering tuition fees to domestic rates. “There’s opportunism at play, and it’s being exploited,” he stated.

Top institutions with the highest number of asylum seekers include Conestoga College, Seneca College, and Niagara College, all in Ontario.

Legal experts caution students against viewing asylum as an easy route to residency. Lawyer Daljit Nirman emphasised that false claims can lead to deportation and other severe consequences.

The spike in asylum claims coincides with a drop in study permits and heightened scrutiny of international student applications. In 2024, over 10,000 acceptance letters were flagged as potentially fraudulent, underscoring the challenges in balancing immigration integrity and student welfare in Canada.

Canada remains committed to aiding genuine asylum seekers while addressing issues of exploitation within its immigration system.

Source: THE PIE NEWS

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