Students from India have voiced their concern after Canada axed its fast-track Student Direct Stream visa program, which was facilitating the students to get study permits well in advance.
This program, which came into being in 2018, allowed students from countries such as India, China, Pakistan, and Brazil to get their study permits faster. Its sudden cancellation has left many aspiring students in a dilemma regarding what to do in the wake of these lost plans to study in Canada.
A student from Chandigarh said, “I was trying to go to Canada for studies, but now they have stopped the visa program. This isn’t fair. Many students in India dream about studying abroad, and this decision seems politically driven.”
“It is not good to halt visas midway. A lot of us will miss out on opportunities and jobs that we have been dreaming of.” She also blamed the interference of politics in the change. “Politics should not get involved in such decisions.”
Visa counselor Rahul Arora voiced similar apprehensions and said this move would shatter the students’ dreams. “This decision will affect the students’ ambitions. Many have struggled for years in pursuit of studies in Canada, and now their dreams are in jeopardy,” he said.
The SDS program cut through some of the red tape to expedite processing for students coming from certain countries. Most popular in India, particularly, but on November 8, Canada announced that it has closed that program. Another sister SDS program targeting Nigerian students, the Nigeria Student Express, or NSE, is no longer available as well. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated that it will process applications received before the deadlines under both SDS and NSE.
The government implemented the SDS to expedite processing for students from countries like India, Brazil, China, and Pakistan, among others. However, it also emphasized its commitment to ensuring all international students have equal access to the same study permit application process.
Starting now on, candidates will have to follow standard processes to obtain a study permit in Canada. It will also require a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter for application at Designated Learning Institutions in Canada.
The news comes amid increasing diplomatic tensions between Canada and India following some allegations regarding the involvement of India in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. It has been strongly denied by India.
ANI
