Canada amends rules, allows border officials to cancel study, work visas

The Canadian government has amended its immigration regulations to provide its border control officials greater power to cancel temporary resident documents such as study visas and work permits.

The change took effect on January 31.

The updated Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations give officials the authority to deny or cancel temporary visas and electronic travel authorisations on a case-by-case basis when a “person’s status or circumstances makes them inadmissible or no longer eligible to hold the document”.

This would include cases wherein the person had provided false information while getting the visa, has a criminal history or if the officer is “not satisfied that someone will leave Canada by the end of their authorised period of stay”.

The changes are aimed at enhancing the integrity of Canada’s temporary residence programmes and are “expected to strengthen security at the border and within Canada”, the government said.

The government expects an additional 7,000 visitor visas, work permits and study permits to be cancelled per year as a result of the changed regulations, The Globe and Mail reported.

The updated regulation is being viewed as having brought uncertainty for international students, foreign workers and tourists, particularly Indian citizens. More than 4.2 lakh Indians are studying at higher education institutes in Canada, The Indian Express reported citing government data.

Indians constituted nearly 40% of international students reported as “no-shows” at Canadian colleges and…

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