Nicholas Keung, a reporter for the Toronto Star, has interviewed our principal lawyer, Will Tao, on study permit processing delays for international students in this article titled These international students are still waiting for study permits from Canada with just two weeks before classes begin, which is behind the paywall.
This news article was published on August 18, 2024, and Will Tao was quoted as follows:
Immigration lawyer Will Tao has noted that delays in processing study permits have been a significant concern for his practice over the past six months. These delays seem to disproportionately impact applicants from countries like China, Iran, and Russia, where issues of national security, foreign interference, and geopolitical tension are prominent.
Will Tao explained that applications are categorized into routine cases with automated positive eligibility determinations and those requiring manual assessments. When a case undergoes enhanced security screening, the applicant typically isn’t informed until they receive a “procedural fairness letter” from officials, addressing the flagged concerns.
“We don’t know exactly how that net is cast, but it seems quite wide from what we’re seeing,” Tao said, highlighting that immigration officials depend on the border agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and the RCMP for these screenings, leading to delays. “I feel like there’s a coordinated effort not to make decisions on these cases.”
Tao advised that while applicants can seek a court order to compel immigration officials to expedite decisions, this process is time-consuming and costly. He recommends prospective students weigh these risks before applying and have a backup plan, such as deferring their studies or considering other countries.
For more information, please read reporter, Nicholas Keung’s article in the Toronto Star.
