The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has uncovered over 10,000 fraudulent student acceptance letters, raising serious concerns about the integrity of international student admissions.
The discovery followed the introduction of stricter verification procedures by the IRCC to address a growing issue with fake admission letters in recent years. Bronwyn May, Director-General of the International Students Branch at IRCC, revealed to a parliamentary committee that the new measures were part of a review of 500,000 student applications conducted over the past year.
While 93% of the letters were verified as legitimate, 2% were confirmed fraudulent, and 1% were linked to canceled admissions. Some educational institutions were found to have admitted students without adequately confirming the authenticity of acceptance letters.
The crackdown came in response to cases in 2023 where international students faced deportation after receiving fake admission letters from an unlicensed consultant in India. To prevent future incidents, the Canadian government now mandates educational institutions to verify acceptance letters through an online portal.
Jenny Kwan, immigration critic for Canada’s New Democratic Party, described the findings as “extremely alarming,” urging the government to tackle the issue and support defrauded students. She warned that Canada’s reputation as a top destination for international students could be jeopardized if fraudulent practices persist.
International students play a crucial role in Canada’s economy, contributing through tuition fees, job creation, and cultural exchange. Addressing fraud is seen as essential to maintaining the country’s status as a global hub for education.
