Canada to streamline student visa processing

In order to provide more eligible international students the opportunity to study at a Canadian post-secondary institution and to shorten the visa application processing time, the Government of Canada has made some changes to the student visa program.

As of June 8, 2018, the existing Student Partnership Program (SPP) in India will be replaced with the Student Direct Stream (SDS).

This new SDS programme will replace existing facilitation programs for students not only in India, but also in China, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The existing SPP in India is restricted to international students intending to study at one of approximately 40 post-secondary institutions in Canada.

The new SDS will be open to all international students going to any Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada, including both publicly-funded and private post-secondary institutions.

The SDS will offer faster and simpler visa processing to international students best placed to complete their academic studies. It will be a single program across the above-named four countries in Asia, with a view to evaluating and eventually expanding it to other countries.

SDS will be available to more students attending more schools in Canada. It will provide faster visa processing of high calibre students, who also represent an important pool of potential permanent residents of Canada.

The High Commissioner for Canada to India Nadir Patel said: "Canada has quickly become the preferred destination for Indian students looking for a high quality international education. Canada provides a world-class education in a safe and welcoming environment at a competitive and affordable cost. The new SDS will provide for students aspiring to go to Canada with an even faster and more streamlined visa application process."

To be part of the SDS and to benefit from expedited processing, international students will need to provide proof that they:

• have been accepted by an eligible post-secondary Designated Learning Institute (DLI)

• have paid their tuition for the first year;

• have obtained a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000 from one of the financial institutions approved by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to provide this service.

• have completed an upfront medical examination

• have the minimum-required IELTS level of English language ability of 6.0 in all categories (listening, reading, writing and speaking);

For SDS study permit applications, the processing time will be an expedited 45 days or less. For non-SDS applications, these will be subject to normal processing times. To benefit from the even faster processing times under SDS, it is strongly recommended that SDS applicants apply on-line.

For more detailed information please visit our website at https://canada-preview.adobecqms.net/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/student-direct-stream.html. Also for the most up-to-date information regarding our programs please follow us on social media and visit www.Canada.ca/Immigration.