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Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has uncovered over 10,000 fraudulent student acceptance letters this year, according to a report by The Globe and Mail, a Canadian daily. The revelation follows intensified scrutiny of international student applications, with 500,000 documents reviewed in 2024 under stricter verification measures.
According to media reports, approximately 80% of these fake letters were linked to students from Gujarat and Punjab.
The crackdown comes after a 2023 incident where international students were issued fraudulent acceptance letters by an unlicensed consultant in India, leading to deportation risks. To address such incidents, Canada now requires designated learning institutions (DLIs) to verify acceptance letters through an online portal.
Bronwyn May, director-general of IRCC’s International Students Branch, told a parliamentary committee that the verification process flagged fraudulent documents in 2% of cases, while another 1% involved cancelled admissions.
Jenny Kwan, Canada’s New Democratic Party immigration critic, described the findings as “extremely alarming”. “Canada has a responsibility to ensure that international students who have been defrauded are protected,” Kwan told The Globe and Mail.
Concerns have also grown over potential complicity by some educational institutions, as several colleges and universities reportedly failed to authenticate letters.
IRCC has ramped up investigations, including a probe into 2,000 cases involving students from India, China, and Vietnam. Of these, 1,485 students submitted fraudulent documents, leading to entry refusals or deportations.
“International students should have a positive, successful experience in Canada, and the important changes made today will help with that,” said Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration.
Source: https://www.business-standard.com
