Amid rising tensions between India and Canada, Justin Trudeau has delivered a huge blow to Indian students as Canada ended its Student Direct Stream (SDS) program with immediate effect.
The SDS program, started in 2018, was helping students from 14 countries, including India, get visas and study permits quickly. It let students get their permits in weeks, while the regular process used to take months.
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Now, the government has set a limit of 437,000 new study permits for 2025, and even stricter rules for the Post-Graduation Work Permit. Work permits for spouses will also be limited and there will be longer wait times.
This has added to the uncertainty for Indian students hoping to study in the North American country. That is why experts suggest students start their visa applications much earlier.
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The program’s cancellation is a continuation of Canada’s plan to control the number of international students as the country is facing pressure on housing and resources.
However, it also comes as diplomatic relations between India and Canada have soured in recent months. As millions of aspiring students are in doubt, it could aggravate these tensions.
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