HYDERABAD: Canada has ended fast-track student visa programme for students belonging to 14 countries including India.
Launched in 2018, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme provided faster processing of visa for post-secondary students from 14 countries, including India. Besides a shorter processing time, the approval rates were higher.
SDS programme
According to official estimates, 60% of the 4 lakh Indian students who wanted to pursue higher education in Canada in 2023 applied for visa under the SDS programme.
Under SDS, the approval rate for Indian students was higher than 70% in 2023, while those applying through the regular route had approval rates of 10%.
Announcing the end of the programme, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said, ”Canada’s goal is to strengthen programme integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience. To meet this commitment, the Student Direct Stream (SDS)… ended. Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits.”
Regular visa
The IRCC said prospective students can still apply for visa through regular study permit route, for which guaranteed investment certificates are accepted as proof of financial support.
Under the SDS programme, students could secure study permits in just 20 working days, even as processing times under the regular route extend to around eight weeks.
India is Canada’s largest source country of foreign students with an estimated 4.27 lakh Indian students studying in that country in 2023.
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