Delayed Study permit decisions by IRCC affect students

Many international students are concerned their education in Canada is being delayed or cancelled because of a delay in visa approvals by the Canadian government.  

According to Kareem El-Assal, managing editor of CIC News, Canada’s international student population has increased over the past years to 642,000 in 2019. Canada has moved into third place globally, behind the United States of America and Australia. 

Canada attracts thousands of international students annually but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has not been giving timely decisions on international student visa applications since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. IRCC offices were kept open but with fewer staff.  

IRCC introduced a two-step process for international students’ applications to let them continue their studies. The first step is the issuance of an approval in principle, also known as an AIP. During the AIP stage the eligibility of each student to study in Canada is checked.  

The next step is a criminality check or medical update, after which a final decision is made.  There are students in their second semester who have not received their final decision, even after a year since filing their application. Many other students have had to postpone their admission to study in–person several times, as they are waiting for final decision.  

Sania Khan, 22, an international student, studying business said this situation is too uncertain for her. She also said she is unable to decide anything owing to IRCC’s delays. 

“Due to COVID-19, all visas were postponed initially but IRCC still did not resume speed,” said Khan. “But for students, it is really difficult. I am in first semester, but it is too difficult to have smooth internet connection in Pakistan.”       

She also said the time difference sometimes makes it impossible to manage. She said she is a little annoyed by IRCC’s policies as students all around the globe are getting quite depressed because of these delays. However, she said she is still hoping to hear soon from the authorities. She inferred this from the Canadian group of international students she joined in 2019. 

Rehana Sameer, another international student, said she has been praying for all students to get their decisions soon as it is now getting unbearable for them to wait. She applied to the IRCC in August and received an AIP but did not get any news regarding her study permit, which she said is quite disappointing.  

“Many students who applied later on in December even got their visas but many who applied earlier like me did not get any clues, what IRCC is up to and when would they pick up our applications,” said Sameer. “Still, we are hoping to get decision soon.”  

In an email about the delayed applications, one of the IRCC representatives said, “They are working on processing applications as quickly as possible; however, processing times are affected, and any disruption caused by COVID-19 is not reflected accurately on the website.”  

They also said they will make all the necessary efforts to finalize the applications as soon as possible.  

Canada is a popular educational hub for international students from all over the world as it promises a bright future along with providing high quality education.  

However, many students are suffering because of delayed decisions on their applications. They still wait for a positive decision soon.