20,000 Indian students come to Canada and don’t show in class

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Nearly 20,000 Indian students have failed to enrol at their designated colleges and universities after arriving in Canada. This has raised significant concerns about immigration fraud and the misuse of the student visa system.

A variety of factors play into this mystery. The first involves many Indian students being lured by fake colleges. And some have used their student visas to enter Canada and work rather than study. Some of those students seem to have been misled by unregulated agents promising easy access to jobs or permanent residency.

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Do Canadian authorities have a handle on the problem?

Long celebrated as a global hub for international students, Canada’s reputation is under scrutiny. Troubling data has been released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada indicating that in March and April 2024, 50,000 international students – 20,000 from India — failed to show.

Fake colleges in Canada, often referred to as “diploma mills,” operate by exploiting loopholes in the education system and using deceptive tactics to attract students.

These institutions typically lack accreditation from recognized accrediting bodies, which is crucial for ensuring the quality and legitimacy of educational programs. They often use misleading advertising, claiming accreditation or recognition that does not exist. This can include false claims about job prospects and post-graduation outcomes.

And unlike some other countries, Canada does not require upfront tuition fee payments, making the country’s system vulnerable to misuse.

If they don’t show up at their schools, what do the students do?

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According to Canadian immigration expert Henry Lotin, most of the missing Indian students remain in Canada, working and seeking permanent residency rather than crossing into the U.S. Many students take up odd jobs to support themselves, often working in restaurants or as delivery couriers.

International students who graduated from Canadian schools more likely to be underemployed: StatsCan

Meanwhile, some students are suspected of using Canada as a gateway to cross into the U.S. illegally, though this is not believed to be widespread.

How is India responding?

Indian authorities are investigating potential links between Canadian colleges and illegal migration networks in India. India’s Enforcement Directorate has conducted multi-city searches across India, including Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara, to gather evidence related to human trafficking and money laundering.

These searches have uncovered incriminating documents and digital devices, as well as frozen bank deposits, indicating potential collusion between Canadian colleges and Indian entities.

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What’s next?

Many students, especially international ones, are left financially and emotionally devastated after discovering they have been deceived. Their families often invest substantial amounts to sending them abroad for education, including tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs. If they do not enrol, these investments are lost, exacting a financial burden on the family.

Families also expect their children to secure high-paying jobs and then send funds back home. If they disappear it can mean a loss of future income, adversely affecting the family’s financial stability.

As a result, there is a growing call for stricter regulations and better monitoring systems and in doing so to reaffirm Canada’s reputation as a premier education destination.

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