(Ottawa) Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced new rules to protect international students from fraud, following an investigation this summer into more than 100 cases involving false admission letters .
The Immigration Department launched a task force in June to investigate a scheme dating back to 2017 in which immigration officials wrote fake acceptance letters to bring international students to Canada.
Of the 103 cases reviewed so far, about 40 percent of students appeared to be participating in the scheme, while the rest were victims.
Mr. Miller said schools accepting international students will have to confirm each applicant’s letter of acceptance with the Department of Immigration starting April 1.er December.
The minister is also looking at the schools themselves and is considering putting in place a system that would benefit post-secondary institutions that have higher standards of services, support and outcomes for international students, in time for the next fall session.
Applicants to these schools would be given priority when it comes to processing their study permits.