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IRCC Update: Don't panic!

Margaret Agwu

16 February 2024 | Last updated 16 February 2024

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"Hi, It's Bukky Wonda here!"},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"In January, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced that the Government of Canada would set an intake cap on international student permit applications for two years. Since this is a big development for many reasons, I had to share my thoughts personally."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"Over the last few weeks since the IRCC updates, we have received several phone calls and messages from students in Canada looking to book consultations. While I am pleased with this development because it means they are being proactive with their future, I still want to address the panic these new developments may have caused for many people, especially intending students. "},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"On January 22, 2024, the IRCC made a ruling as follows:"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"With immediate effect, Canada has put a cap on the number of international students granted per year to 364,000."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify","list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\t\t"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"2."},{"insert":"\t"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"Spousal Work Permits are now restricted to certain professional programs."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\t\t"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"3."},{"insert":"\t"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"Private Colleges would be affected as they would no longer become PGWP eligible."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"\t"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"        4 . Each province would be assigned the number of international students they could bring in and students would need to obtain a      "},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"           license from their province before applying for a Visa."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"If you are like most people who read this, you have loads of questions. I will attempt to provide as much clarity and policy interpretation as possible in layman’s terms."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a","bold":true},"insert":"The interpretation of the above policy (including all written revisions) can be summarised below:"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"1. All Study Permit Applications should be put on hold till March 31st. There is an exception for those going for postgraduate, masters, and   "},{"insert":"\t "},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"    PhD programs."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"2. Masters and PhD students are not required to submit or get a letter of attestation."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"3. Those going for a postgraduate program or master's degree can apply for a spousal work permit and come in with their spouses. People "},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"    going for regular diplomas, certificates or bachelor's degrees are not eligible to bring their spouses."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"4. Students with study permits or already in Canada are not affected by either of these policies."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"5. Avoid any college or university under PPP (Private-Public Partnership) from September 1st."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"Note that the inclusion or exclusion of the PostGraduate Diploma/Certificate is debatable. This is because it wasn’t mentioned in the original announcement, but it is on the written policy. There is sometimes a misinterpretation by Visa officers, so it is yet to be seen if we will have issues on this end."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"It’s also clear that competition will become steep at a lot of schools, especially those that have a Masters option. This was the case before the policy, we saw that applications not submitted at least by December of the previous year for the next year's September admission, mostly go on the waitlist. "},{"insert":"\n\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a","bold":true},"insert":"Action plan: Your game plan should follow this path. "},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"1. Canada and rush cannot be in the same sentence. Plan for your education, and apply early."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":" 2. There will be a cap on the number of international students each school can admit. Again, applying early will be to your advantage"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"3. Expect a big change in the Letter of Acceptance issuance system."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"4. Expect a big change in admissions requirements for certain schools."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"5. Studying with family will still be possible, but won't be easily accessible. One strategy our Consultants have always used is to apply for your family after you have completed your application and gotten your visa. You’ll have a higher chance of success when you strategize to bring them later."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"6. With the current update and change of policy in Canada, if you want to bring your spouse with you, you have to consider a master's program."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a","size":"large","bold":true},"insert":"Where to apply: Breaking down the New Study Profile"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"As a bonus, we have outlined some schools you can start looking at now."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"These schools accept second-class upper (2:2) for a master's program or their Pre-Masters program and are affordable. "},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"1. University Canada West Vancouver"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"2. International Business School"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"3. Niagara Falls University"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"These affordable Universities have good master's programs with a good number of seats accepting second-class upper (2.1): "},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"1. Royal Road University"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"2. Thompson Rivers University"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"3. University of Lethbridge"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"4. Windsor University"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"5. Adler University"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"6. York University"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"7. University of Manitoba"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"I hope this has helped to shed some light on the new updates, and you are no longer panicking. Now you can plan for your future with confidence."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"Send us an email at student@shirah.co to get you started for free if one of the schools you are looking to apply for is one of our partner schools. "},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"If it isn’t, we can still support you at a fee. Call us at  +1 (587) 887-2045 to get started."},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"Until next time, I’m your partner in immigration,"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#0e101a"},"insert":"Bukky Wonda"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#f0f0f0","code":true},"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"align":"justify"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}

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