There has been a significant 35% decline in the number of people from Gujarat aspiring to go to Canada, driven by reduced job prospects, higher fees, and increasing uncertainty about future benefits. Despite this, some individuals who initially planned to go to the US remain in Canada.

For the first time, many students are experiencing visa rejections for Canada.

High fees, low expectations

Recently, a student who applied for a visa admitted that his decision was influenced by his friends, but now, given the worsening situation, he regrets it.

His family had spent ₹20 lakh including ₹12 lakh on the mandatory Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) and ₹11 lakh on college fees. Despite completing the necessary paperwork, his visa was rejected.

In the event of rejection, Canadian colleges deduct 10-12% of the fees.

A student from Ambawadi, Ahmedabad shared that after his rejection, 10% (₹2,50,000) of his ₹18 lakh fee was deducted, with the remaining amount refunded within 15 days.

Coming from a middle-class family, his parents had struggled to gather the funds, making the rejection particularly devastating. 

An Ahmedabad-based visa consultant confirmed that Canada, once a prime destination for students, is now seeing a sharp decline in interest due to constant visa rejections and the overall unfavourable situation.

This has also led to a significant drop in  International English Language Testing System (IELTS) students by 35%, and other countries are seeing a reduction in students as well.

IELTS coaching centres have experienced a 50% decrease in students. The IELTS fee is ₹17,000 and many students, after receiving low scores, retake the test.

With coaching and exam fees costing between ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000 rupees, studying abroad has become increasingly expensive for students and their families.

Why Canadian immigration is a tough game now?

The Canada-dream game has begun to turn upside down for Indians due to permanent residency woes, and cutting the number of low-wage, temporary foreign workers in Canada.

The Trudeau government has announced that international students who choose private colleges with a licensed curriculum will no longer be eligible for a work permit, resulting in massive rejections among new foreign students. 

This decision has also directly impacted student visa applications, and when Canada imposed a limit of 3,60,000 students on January 24, a 35% drop in students going to Canada from Gujarat was observed.

Recently, the Trudeau government also reduced the honorary wages for temporary foreign workers, affecting the livelihood of over 70,000 international students studying there.

Moreover, the cost of going to Canada, which was previously around ₹22-₹23 lakh, has now increased to approximately ₹37 lakh, making it a steep climb for many Gujarati parents and their children.

Also read:

Canada’s plan to cut down low-wage workers will hit Indians the hardest

Indian students in Canada likely to face financial strain with new work permit rule

Visitor visa holders in Canada won’t be able to apply for work permit from within country