Canada aspirants in India defer education plans, study abroad platforms suggest looking at other destinations

"Worries about the accessibility of visas for immigrants, students, and workers have emerged due to the worsening diplomatic relations between Canada and India. This situation has ripple effects, impacting not only individuals but also companies with Canadian connections,” upGrad Abroad’s Dhawan told CNBCTV18.com.

According to Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder and CEO of educational consultant firm Leverage Edu, a flurry of emotions has gripped various categories of students, from those already residing in Canada to those in the final stages of the admission process awaiting visas, and even those just commencing their applications to Canadian universities.

Delhi-based Urshavi Sharma, aspiring to study intercultural and international communications in Canada's British Columbia and originally planning a move in October, now finds herself grappling with apprehensions. Fearing potential visa cancellations and the prospect of being separated from family due to travel restrictions, Sharma has opted to defer her admission by one semester, she told CNBC-TV18.

She, like many others, is exploring alternative countries for pursuing her higher studies, underscoring the current uncertainty shrouding Canada as an educational and professional haven.

As per data from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the government department that deals with matters related to immigration to Canada, refugees, and Canadian citizenship, more than a million Indian students have migrated to Canada for educational purposes in the last five years.

The number of Indian students staying in Canada with valid study visas has gone up from 1.71 lakh in 2018 to 2.18 lakh in 2019, 1.79 lakh in 2020, 2.16 lakh in 2021, and 3.19 lakh in 2022.

Dhawan explained that currently, the success rate for student visas in Canada stands at 60 percent, and there's a possibility it may decline further.

upGrad Abroad president suggested that students who solely prioritise Canada should consider alternative options, mostly ones with flexible immigrant policies.

Chaturvedi of LeverageEdu told CNBCTV18.com that given that things have snowballed, his platform has stopped taking new applications to Canada until there is more clarity.

“We are asking our students to redirect plans towards the US or UK, if possible. For those who are not in a position to do that, trying our best to figure out how to help. We will strictly follow the Indian government’s directives, and hope to get clarity over the next few days,” he said.