Why enhanced verification is a watershed moment for Canadian institutions.

It’s no secret that Canada is a highly sought after destination for international students. Home to over 200 different ethnic groups, Canada’s pro-immigration policies have always encouraged a nation of diverse identities and nationalities (Singer, 2015). Yet, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), Marc Miller’s most recent announcement about enhanced verification of international applications is set to be a turning point for international enrollment. 

What does that mean for Canadian institutions you might ask? Let’s dive in. 

As you’ve probably heard, Minister Miller proposed 3 major changes to the International Student Program in order to better protect international students from ‘fraudulent activity’: 

Summarized:

1. Institutions must confirm every acceptance letter of international students with the IRCC.
2. Institutions that display strong support for international students will receive priority from the IRCC for international application processing.
3. Further reforms to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (TBA). 

These changes were prompted by the IRCC’s and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)’s investigation into fraudulent admission letters, conducted in June of this year. The report argued for an overhauled admissions process that matches the 3 changes outlined above. The reforms will take effect on December 1, 2023. The overarching goal of the reforms is to weed out the number of actors who financially gain (unjustly, the government argues) from the admittance of an international student.

To cut a long story short: international application reviews and immigration processes are going to take much, much longer. The impact will have immediate effect for the upcoming 2024 intake.  Note, application processing time is already a major problem. 

Many international students have a tough time navigating the application process, and may not be aware of the extra checks involved. So the big question looms: how can we better support international students and prepare for the reforms?  

It’s high time to ensure your international prospects are in the know and have all the support they need for the upcoming marathon of an enrollment journey. 

Although it may feel like a feat, here’s some tactical guidance on how to pull this off:

1. Set clear expectations.   

• Use Goodkind video messages to explain specific processes and different immigration requirements
• Write simple help articles and FAQs, use Whatsapp and SMS to direct students to those articles.  
• Consider adding a GPT chatbot to your international student page (inquire with your Goodkind rep for a test-bot). 

2. Offer a dedicated point of contact at your institution.

• Create a role in your international office if you don’t already have one exclusively catered to helping international students navigate the process. 
• Make that person available to qualified international students through web bookings (check out Calendly or Microsoft Bookings). 

3. Introduction to current international students. 

• While hearing directly from your institution is important, letting current students speak to their own experiences can help prospective students feel more at ease. Remember, comfort matters, and hearing from a peer with the same context means way more than you think.  

4. Encourage sending in documentation to IRCC much earlier than prior years. 

• Timing is everything. With the IRCC introducing a lot of new processes and checks, increase the odds (and let students know it) by getting docs in early. 

Let’s not only protect international students - let’s provide them with the necessary resources to help make their move to Canada seamless. So buckle up, because it’s going to be, quite literally, a long, long ride. 

Speak to your Goodkind rep if you have any questions, or email us at team@goodkind.com. 

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Additional sources: 

1. IRCC Press Release
2. International student data (1)
3. International student data (2)
4. Int’l student application processing time - 2023 

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