Canada New Rule, A Blow To Indian Students!

Canada has announced a noteworthy adjustment to its immigration regulations affecting prospective students. Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, declared that starting January 1, 2024, the minimum cost of living financial requirement for students would increase from the current 10,000 Canadian dollars to 20,635 Canadian dollars. This change aims to ensure that students do not face financial hardships while studying in the country.

The revised regulations are expected to impact Indian students significantly, particularly those from Punjab, who constitute a substantial portion of annual applicants seeking student visas for Canada. In response, Mandeep from the Montreal Youth Student Organization (MYSO) expressed concern, highlighting the financial strain already faced by students due to various expenses. The doubling of the minimum security amount required in Canadian banks for student expenses is viewed as an added burden that may hinder deserving students from pursuing education in Canada.

Khushpal Grewal, another MYSO member, criticized the government for increasing the burden on international students instead of addressing issues such as reducing college fees or providing affordable public transportation. Varun Khanna, also part of MYSO, drew historical parallels to emphasize the government’s tendency to change rules based on convenience.

Manpreet, another MYSO member, highlighted the potential impact on Punjabi students, who constitute a significant portion of the demographic seeking to study in Canada from January 2024 onwards. Rough statistics from immigration agents in Punjab indicated that in 2022, approximately 2.26 lakh Indians secured Canadian visas, with nearly 1.36 lakh being Punjabis. Presently, over 3.5 lakh Punjabi students are enrolled in Canadian institutions.