With the abrupt suspension of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa throwing a lengthy shadow over their plans, Indian students’ ambition to study in Canada has become more complex. The stoppage has significantly impacted the international education sector, as living expenses are soaring and visa requirements are becoming more stringent. Over the last six to eight years, Gujarati visa experts have seen a 40% drop in business. Things need to be more reasonable with this latest decision.
An Ahmedabad-based foreign education consultant said, “The Canadian market, which once made up 70% of our revenue in early 2023, has now decreased to just 20%. Frequent policy changes and restrictive actions on Indian student intake have led to a sharp 30-40% decline in our business.”
The sudden stoppage in SDS processing is expected to extend visa timelines from 2-4 weeks to as long as eight weeks or more. Students will now face stricter demands, such as providing financial proof such as income statements, savings and fixed deposits.
Notably, this will result in extended wait times, leaving applicants and consultants at the edge of it. “The stricter financial proof requirements, mirroring US visa norms, will force students to prepare their applications at least 3-4 months before the September intake. This additional burden complicates the process for both students and consultants,” said Hemant Agrawal, another city-based consultant.
“The demand for more detailed financial documentation will likely slow visa approvals up to 8 weeks or more. With college results typically coming out in May and June, many students might have to push their plans to January instead of the September intake.” Ritesh Desai, an industry expert, stated.
The ripple effect exists. There will be a future backlog of visa applications due to many students changing their minds about their September plans and choosing to postpone their intake.
“Canada isn’t the same lucrative market it once was for us. Unless there’s a shift in policy, the downturn will only worsen,” said a visa consultant.
Also Read: Ahmedabad: CCTV Fails to Aid MICA Student Murder Probe, Police Turn to Sketching Technique
