Canada's move to end popular visa program to hit Indian students

In a setback to international students, Canada on Friday (November 8) discontinued its Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program for international students.

The program had higher approval rates and faster processing times. The move is part of Canada’s broader strategy to manage its international student population amid growing concerns over housing shortages and resource constraints.

The Canadian government said on its website that the initiative is being discontinued to “strengthen program integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process”.

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Regular stream only option now

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will no longer accept applications under its fast-track study permit process, which had helped plenty of international students secure visas quickly.

All study permit applications, from now on, will be submitted using the standard application process. However, SDS visa applications received till 2 pm ET on November 8 will be processed, whereas all applications after this will be processed under the regular study permit stream.

The program was implemented in 2018 by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to expedite study permit applications for international students from 14 countries, including Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines and Vietnam.

How it helped Indian students?

The SDS visa program was quite popular among Indian students as it processed applications within 20 days, provided applicants submit biometrics and meet all eligibility criteria.

This can be gauged from the fact that the gap in approval rates between SDS and non-SDS applicants, particularly from India, has widened, over the recent years.

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SDS approval rates particularly shot up during COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the regular stream. SDS applicants had approval rates three times higher than non-SDS applicants in 2021 and 2022.

SDS applicants achieved a 63% approval rate by the end of 2022, while non-SDS applicants had only 19%. This trend continued into early 2023, with Indian SDS applicants reaching a 73% approval rate, in stark contrast to the 10% approval rate for non-SDS applicants, as per a report in The Economic Times.

“SDS has become the preferred route for Indian students seeking Canadian study permits. In 2022, 80% of Indian applicants used the SDS program, a significant increase from previous years. From January to March 2023, nearly four out of five Indian students applied through SDS, with applicants achieving a 76% approval rate, compared to only 8% for those using the regular stream,” said the report.