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Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uncovered over 10,000 fraudulent student acceptance letters this year.
BS50 reports that the revelation follows intensified scrutiny of international student applications, with 500,000 documents reviewed in 2024, under stricter verification measures. Media reports say about 80% of the fake letters were linked to students from Gujarat and Punjab.
In 2023, an unlicensed consultant in India issued fraudulent acceptance letters to international students, which led 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,” he told The Globe and Mail.
Concerns over potential complicity by some educational institutions have also been raised, as several colleges and universities failed to authenticate letters.
Meanwhile, the 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,” Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, said.
IRCC has introduced a rule requiring students to obtain a new study permit to transfer to institutions. According to IRCC, the goal is to safeguard the integrity of the International Student Program and protect students from financial and legal vulnerabilities.
