New student visa rules ‘to curb fraud and human smuggling’

Canada’s federal government wants to strengthen rules surrounding student visas to crack down on fraud and human smuggling – even though it is not clear just how big a problem this is, writes Tobi Cohen for Postmedia News.

The government has proposed weeding out international students who arrive on a student visa but use it to gain access to Canada's labour market and do not enrol in an institution. There are also concerns that some are ending up at sub-standard institutions that ultimately hurt Canada's international credibility.

The proposals were published without fanfare in the government's Canada Gazette. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said he also worries that human smuggling groups are helping young people to obtain student visas, only to pull them into the sex trade once they arrive. He said he has heard this concern from some ethnic groups.
Full report on The Vancouver Sun site