Canada has identified over 10,000 student acceptance letters as potentially fraudulent, sparking concerns about the integrity of its international student admissions.
The revelation comes after Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced stricter verification measures to combat rising cases of fake documents.
These checks were carried out over the past year on a staggering 500,000 student applications.
While 93% of the documents were legitimate, 2% were confirmed to be fraudulent, and 1% were linked to canceled admissions.
Experts say the new measures are necessary to protect Canada’s reputation as a top destination for international students.
The stricter checks follow a 2023 scandal involving fake acceptance letters issued to international students by an unlicensed consultant in India.
Many of those students faced deportation, creating a global uproar and raising questions about oversight in the admissions process.
In response, Canada made it mandatory for educational institutions to verify acceptance letters through an online portal.
Bronwyn May, IRCC’s director-general for the International Students Branch, explained the measures during a parliamentary committee meeting.
“These checks are part of ensuring the integrity of our immigration system,” May said.
Jenny Kwan, an immigration critic from Canada’s New Democratic Party, has described the findings as “extremely alarming.”
She believes the issue is twofold: preventing fraud and supporting students who have been exploited.
“Canada has a responsibility to ensure that international students who have been defrauded are protected,” Kwan told The Globe and Mail.
She warned that Canada’s reputation could suffer if fraudulent practices are not addressed quickly and decisively.
The IRCC’s findings reveal that some universities and colleges admitted students without verifying the authenticity of their acceptance letters.
This oversight has raised concerns about accountability in educational institutions.
“Educational institutions must do more to ensure the legitimacy of their admissions,” a source close to the investigation stated.
With international students contributing billions of dollars annually to Canada’s economy, maintaining trust in the system is critical.
International students are a cornerstone of Canada’s economy, contributing through tuition fees, living expenses, and cultural exchange.
Canada welcomes thousands of students each year, making it one of the top destinations for higher education globally.
However, fraudulent practices threaten to undermine this success story.
Ensuring the credibility of admissions is essential not only for students but also for the institutions that depend on them.
The IRCC has pledged to continue strengthening its verification processes to prevent exploitation.
These measures are designed to protect students from fraudulent consultants and ensure they can pursue their education without fear of deportation.
“Every student deserves a fair chance at achieving their dreams in Canada,” said an official from IRCC.
The government aims to balance fraud prevention with support for students who have been misled.
