All articlesOn November 8, the Canadian government formally terminated the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program, which had accelerated the application process for study permits for Indian students. However, the Indian government claimed that Indian students who intended to study in Canada would gain from the SDS program's termination.
An estimated 400,000 Indian students are expected to study in Canada in 2023; of these, 60% applied through the SDS. Compared to barely 10% through the traditional procedure, almost 70% of Indian students were approved under SDS.
Hibi George Eden, a member of the Lok Sabha, raised the topic of ending the SDS visa program. The Kerala MP inquired as to what difficulties Indian students would have as a result of the program's discontinuation.
Kirti Vardhan Singh, a junior minister in the External Affairs Ministry, responded to Eden by stating that Indian students will gain from the termination of the SDS program since it would lower the cost of admission.
The minister emphasized that the modifications would benefit students, especially those who had found it difficult to meet the SDS program's greater financial requirements.
Students had to achieve certain language competency standards, present a $20,635 Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC), and pay the full cost of tuition for one year in advance in order to be eligible.
All foreign students, including those from India, will now have to apply for regular study permits, which are less expensive, as the SDS program has been discontinued.
"Under the regular route, students are no longer required to pay the full one-year tuition fee upfront, but only for six months and demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover their living expenses. This makes the admission process more affordable for students, particularly those who were previously unable to meet the more costly SDS requirements," the minister said.
Approximately 427,000 Indian students are now enrolled in Canadian colleges and institutions, making India the country's largest source of international students, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
In order to assist international students, particularly those from India, in submitting their study permit applications more quickly, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program was introduced in 2018.
Singh clarified that the decision made by the Canadian government was intended to alleviate student vulnerability, improve the program's integrity, and guarantee equitable access for all students.
"All issues facing Indian students in Canada are regularly discussed and raised with Canadian authorities. The government of India places high emphasis on the well-being of Indian students pursuing education in Canada," Singh added
🇨🇦 Canada4 Dec 20242 min readsitemanager
Indian government states Canada scrapping SDS visa to benefit Indian students
On November 8, the Canadian government formally terminated the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program, which had accelerated the application process for study permits for Indian students.