Canada Sean Fraser, Canada’s immigration minister, has stated that international students implicated in immigration-related fraud will not be deported if they are found innocent.
To avoid immediate deportation for individuals undergoing review, interim ‘Temporary Resident Permits’ may be issued, if necessary, as mentioned by Fraser.
Previously, a significant number of students, primarily from Punjab, have been ensnared in an immigration scam. The letters of acceptance from educational institutions that were submitted as part of their study permit application for entry into Canada were subsequently discovered to be fraudulent.
These students have been deceived by a local agent in India.
Fraser clarified that there might be students who were aware of and participated in the fraud, and they would face deportation after undergoing the appropriate legal procedures.
Each case will be examined based on the facts involved. Several individuals have already received removal orders, Fraser added.
However, if it is evident that an international student genuinely intended to study in Canada and had no knowledge of the fraudulent documentation, instructions have been give to issue a Temporary Resident Permit to allow them to stay in Canada.
This measure aims to ensure that well-intentioned students are not subjected to the usual 5-year ban on re-entering Canada imposed in cases of misrepresentation. In the meantime, preliminary Temporary Resident Permits will be issued, if necessary, to prevent immediate deportation while the process unfolds.
Fraser emphasized that all applicants must conduct thorough research before applying for a study permit. He encouraged international students to report any fraud if they believe they have been deceived by an unscrupulous consultant.
