Canada ends Student Direct Stream visa program: How it will impact aspiring Indian students?

Canada on Friday, November 8, brought the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program for international students to a halt. This comes as an aftermath of housing and resource crisis. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) implemented the visa program in 2018 to expedite study permit applications for international students.

This Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program specifically focused on bringing student immigrants from 14 countries – Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.

According to the Government of Canada, the initiative is being discontinued to “strengthen program integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process.”

The official website states, “Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits.” This implies that all applications received till 2:00 pm ET on November 8 will be processed under the scheme, whereas all applications sent after this deadline will be processed under the regular study permit stream.

The notice further mentions that the change in visa policy “will not adversely affect eligibility for those who wish to apply for a study permit from a country” where the SDS was offered. Furthermore, all students must meet Canada’s study permit application requirements to study in Justin Trudeau helmed country.

What discontinuation of Student Direct Stream means?

The Student Direct Stream program specifically had higher approval rates and faster processing times. However, following the discontinuation of this program, students from all the 14 countries mentioned above, including India, will have to undergo more lengthy visa processes from now on.

This drastic policy changes for the first time in years comes as a measure to curb the number of immigrants entering the country. This recent move comes in the backdrop of economic problems ranging from strained healthcare system, rising cost of living and housing crisis, among others.