Canada's decision to double the amount of money that international students need to show to get a study visa will impact students from India the most as they make up about 40 per cent of all international students in Canada.
To get a study visa to Canada, a student currently needs to show $10,000 in his or her account for covering the initial cost of living.
But from 2024, the students will have to show at least in their $20,635 account on top of their one-year tuition fees. If students bring one family member with them, they will need to show an additional $4,000.
Of about 8,00,000 international students currently studying in Canada, 3,20,000 are from India. Students from Punjab roughly make up about 70 per cent of them.
Making this announcement on Thursday, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said, "Ahead of September 2024, we are prepared to take necessary measures, including significantly limiting visas, to ensure that designated learning institutions provide adequate and sufficient student support."
Since the huge influx of international students has caused a housing crisis, the minister said, "It would be a mistake to blame international students for the housing crisis. But it will also be a mistake to invite them to come to Canada with no support, including how to put a roof over their heads. That's why we expect learning institutions to only accept numbers of students that they’re able to provide for, able to house or assist in finding off campus housing."
Promising to shut fraudulent colleges that have sprung up across Canada to lure international students, the minister said, "There are, in provinces, the diploma equivalent of puppy mills that are just churning out diplomas, and this is not a legitimate student experience. There is fraud and abuse and it needs to end."
Threatening to reduce study visas, he said, "If provinces and territories cannot do this, we will do it for them and they will not like the bluntness of the instruments that we use."
The minister also extended the limit on international students to work more than 20 hours a week until April 30, 2024.
FM says GST rates to be reduced further, rationalised; Congress demands overhaul
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates will be reduced further as the process of rationalising tax slabs is nearing completion.
'Anti-incumbency is an issue of the past now': J.P. Nadda hails PM Modi's leadership in Tripura rally
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president J.P. Nadda on Sunday said that the political culture in India has changed after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, adding that people earlier used to talk about the anti-incumbency factor against the government.
Budget Session: Second leg to see fireworks over delimitation row, Trump's tariffs; Waqf Bill on govt's agenda
The second leg of the Budget session of Parliament is set to resume on Monday and is expected to be a stormy one with both the Opposition and Government ready to outdo each other on multiple issues.
PM Modi visits Vice President Dhankhar in AIIMS, wishes him speedy recovery
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the AIIMS Delhi to enquire about the health of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and prayed for his speedy recovery.
India, EU to hold next round of trade talks on March 10
India and the European Union are scheduled to begin the next round of talks for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) from Monday in Brussels with the aim of concluding the talks by the end of this year, a senior official said.
Nari Shakti is foundation of Viksit Bharat: CM Manik Saha
Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today said that women are crucial for making Ek Tripura Srestha Tripura and Nari Shakti of the 21st century is the foundation of Viksit Bharat.
BJP accuses CPI(M) of attempting to disrupt mega public gathering by making lies
Addressing the media on Saturday, Chakraborty claimed that the CPI(M) had a history of suppressing dissent during its rule, alleging that people who refused to participate in their rallies were deprived of employment opportunities under schemes like MNREGA.
STGT aspirants holds protest near CM’s resident, demands recruitment
A large group of unemployed youth who had successfully passed the 2022 Selection Test for Graduate Teachers (STGT) exam took to the streets today, demanding immediate recruitment.