IRCC is protecting foreign students via the LOA verification system. The system is one of the changes to the international student program. These changes aim to protect foreign nationals studying in Canada and improve overall program integrity.
The new verification system requires all Canadian DLIs to manually confirm every LOA they receive with IRCC through the department’s online portal within ten calendar days.
Note: LOAs are documents that international students were already required to submit in support of their application for a student visa in Canada.
Through this verification system, IRCC intends on protecting international students via the LOA verification system. Of course, there are many other ways as well, like ensuring they are not wasting their valuable time, money, and other resources to pursue a study permit in Canada. The system will cancel and return a student visa application to the international student applicant:
- If a DLI fails to validate their LOA within IRCC’s 10-calendar-day timeframe
- If an LOA processed by this system is assessed as invalid or fake
Has IRCC’s System Been Successful?
According to the data published by IRCC in a news release, in the first four months of its implementation—between December 1, 2023, and April 1, 2024 – IRCC’s LOA verification system has ‘identified over 9,000 LOAs that either did not match any letter issued by DLI or that the DLI had already canceled before the foreign national applied for a study permit’.
In simpler terms, IRCC’s new system has theoretically protected thousands of international students from potentially wasting time and money in pursuit of a study permit based on an invalid LOA.
Furthermore, IRCC also notes that over 142,000 LOAs have been successfully processed as valid through this LOA system. IRCC states that they were confirmed as valid directly with DLIs across Canada.
Note: IRCC states that it has received nearly 162,000 LOAs for verification in this timeframe.
Although there is no data or projections available for how the department expects its LOA verification system to perform in the future, IRCC states that this new procedure has thus far been a success.
Other Ways To Become Safe As An International Student
IRCC has deemed its LOA verification system successful. But it’s not the only way international students can protect themselves and stay safe from fraud.
Be Aware Of Bad Actors
IRCC is protecting foreign students via the LOA verification system. However, because of the willingness to do whatever it takes to study in Canada, they are often the target of fraudulent bad actors in the immigration space.
These actors might make guarantees of success to international student applicants and promise them expedited application processing.
Although they say they are working in the best interest of the student, many of these actors are purely interested in taking money away from students as well as their families.
Ensure That Your LOA Includes All Information Recommended By IRCC
Although DLIs do not need to include all recommended information, international students are still cautioned to review their LOAs because this is an excellent way to make sure they are legitimate and genuine.
For instance, if an LOA is missing key information, it might be more likely that it is fake.
IRCC’s LOA verification system exists to confirm whether a letter is genuine. Well, this is an excellent first step for international students looking to eventually pursue a study permit in Canada.
Other Ways Of Protecting Foreign Students
Apart from protecting foreign students via the LOA verification system, there are other ways to do so as well, like:
- Limiting the number of international study permits that will be issued over the next two years
- Increasing the cost-of-living requirement for international students
- Making several changes to its PGWP program
- Altering the eligibility criteria for its Open Work Permit program
- Developing and implementing a Trusted Institutions Framework
Note that specific students are now eligible for a PGWP. On the other hand, master’s graduates are now eligible for a permit that is three years in length.