Canada stops issuing fast-track visas to foreign students amid ongoing India-Canada diplomatic row. Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced in a statement on Friday that the Student Direct Stream (SDS) is being terminated immediately. SDS was Canada’s program that had the fastest document checks for students and the highest number of applications approved.
Canada introduced the SDS scheme in 2018 to avoid delays in pursuing further education in Canada for foreign students. The project saw students from 14 countries like India, China, Brazil, Pakistan, Vietnam and the Philippines. The only criteria for this were language and economic security. Officials have clarified that Canada SDS applicants will be accepted only until 2 pm local time on November 8. Applications thereafter will be treated as normal study permit applications. With Canada stopping this service, it will affect students from India the most. With this, Indian students will have to go through lengthy visa procedures.
