Canada, renowned for its prestigious educational institutions, diverse society, and post-graduation opportunities, stands as a prime choice for international students. Despite the invaluable contributions of these students to campus life and national innovation, they have encountered notable challenges, particularly in securing suitable housing during their academic pursuits in Canada.
Financial Preparedness for International Students
The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has announced a pivotal development set to take effect from January 1, 2024. This transformative change involves elevating the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants. The intention is to ensure that international students are adequately financially prepared for their life in Canada.
Going forward, this financial threshold will be regularly adjusted based on updates from Statistics Canada on the low-income cut-off (LICO), representing the minimum income necessary for sustaining a decent standard of living.
Addressing Long-Standing Financial Discrepancies
The cost-of-living requirement for study permit applicants has remained stagnant since the early 2000s, standing at $10,000 for a single applicant. This prolonged stagnation has resulted in a misalignment with the evolving cost of living, leaving students arriving in Canada to discover that their funds are insufficient.
In 2024, a significant adjustment mandates that a single applicant demonstrate financial readiness by showcasing $20,635, equivalent to 75% of LICO, in addition to covering their first-year tuition and travel expenses. Importantly, this change applies to new study permit applications received on or after January 1, 2024.
Targeted Pilots for Enhanced Support
Recognizing the potential impact of this change on different applicants, plans are underway to collaborate with partners on targeted pilot programs. These initiatives aim to explore innovative solutions specifically designed to assist underrepresented cohorts of international students in pursuing their studies in Canada.
Reforming the International Student Program
This recent announcement aligns with broader reforms to the International Student Program unveiled on October 27, 2023. These reforms focus on establishing a new framework to identify learning institutions that excel in providing top-quality services and support, including housing, to international students. Learning institutions are expected to admit only the number of students they can adequately support, emphasizing the importance of holistic student support.
Ensuring Support for International Students
Recognizing the responsibility to support international students, proactive measures are planned ahead of the September 2024 semester. This may involve necessary actions, such as visa limitations, to ensure that designated learning institutions offer sufficient student support as an integral part of the academic experience.
Collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, learning institutions, and other stakeholders is deemed essential to guarantee the success of international students in Canada.
Updates on Temporary Policies Affecting International Students
Minister Miller also provided updates on three temporary policies affecting international students set to expire at the end of 2023:
- Extension of Off-Campus Work Limits: The waiver on the 20-hour-per-week limit for off-campus work during class sessions will be extended to April 30, 2024, benefiting existing international students and applicants who submitted study permit applications by December 7, 2023. Exploration of options, including expanding off-campus work hours to 30 per week, is under consideration.
- Continuation of Online Study Recognition: The facilitative measure allowing international students to count online study time towards a post-graduation work permit, up to 50% of the program, will continue for students beginning their programs before September 1, 2024.
- The Post-Graduation Work Permit Extension: The temporary policy providing an additional 18-month work permit to post-graduation work permit holders will not be extended beyond December 31, 2023.
Safeguarding the Contributions of International Students
Recognizing the significant social, cultural, and economic benefits international students bring to Canada, these comprehensive measures are aimed at addressing vulnerabilities and upholding the integrity of the International Student Program. With the overdue increase in the cost-of-living threshold, students arriving in Canada will embark on their academic journey with a more robust financial foundation.
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