Thursday, July 26, 2018

Is the new Visa system introduced in Canada for Asian markets really speedy for Indians?

Recently, Canada’s Immigration division, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a new immigration program called Student Direct Stream (SDS). SDS is open to four countries including India.

The program promises to fast-track the immigration process with fewer delays so students from these Asian counties do not have to miss semester intakes due to immigration hassles. But, will SDS really help speed up the process for all students?

Indian students who received study permits for Canada was 83,410 in 2017, This figure reflected a rise of 58% over 2016. In fact, the total number of Indian students in Canada rose to 100,000 in the same year. This number is steadily growing as Canada continues to be a welcoming nation to foreign students in contrast to the increasingly protectionist views of the UK and US.
What is Student Direct Stream (SDS)?
Under the SDS program, the student immigration process has been expedited, given that they meet 3 major criteria. Students are required to display above average language skills and provide proof of being capable to pay the tuition fees. They are required to have an overall 6.0 score in IELTS as well as a minimum 6.0 in all its sub-bands including reading, writing, listening and speaking. Further, students will need to present a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAN$10,000 as proof of ability to self-support through the course. A proof of tuition payment for the first year is also required.
As a solution, Indian families should plan their finances in keeping with the visa requirements while encouraging students to thoroughly prepare for IELTS. If parents are able to manage the financial aspect and students are able to push the envelope of excellence, SDS will actually end up really benefitting them and accelerating their dream of studying in Canada. While the debate on the merits of SDS and SPP can go on, it would be wisest to look at the merits of the new regime and do one’s best to ace it

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