Impact of COVID-19 on student visas

Western countries generate billions of dollars from immigration and foreign students each year. The immigration industry provides jobs, skilled workforce and brings innovation to the host countries.

According to the UNESCO, foreign students doubled in number from 1999 to 2013 in the USA, Canada, UK, and Australia. In 2000, two million foreign students chose to embark on their studies abroad, while in 2017, the numbers reached 5.3 million.

The novel coronavirus brought the entire world into a standstill. Across the world, industries are struggling to cope with the new dynamic situation. Many countries have sealed their borders and imposed unprecedented travel bans.

Canada has shut borders to all travelers entering the country even for its own citizens and permanent residence holders as well. However, on 21 March, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship of Canada (IRRC) announced travel relaxation for resident and student visa holders who had travelled outside to return home. It should be noted that foreigners, except exceptional cases, are still restricted from entering Canada.

Hundreds and thousands of students enter Canada each year. In 2019, 642,480 students chose Canada as their destination for undergraduate and graduate studies. According to many consultants, the student visa rejection rate went dramatically up since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Students who received admissions were forced to defer their semester intakes from January to September. Those preparing for IELTS are now unable to take their tests as centers announced closures. Uncertainty prevails everywhere.

There is another viewpoint pertaining to student visa approvals. China and India alone received half of the total student permits that Canada issues every year. Out of the total 642,480 study permits issued by Canada in 2019, Indians received 172,000 and the Chinese got 142,000 study permits.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak in China, Chinese students will be unlikely to procure students permits until the situation gets normal. Thus, many students and consultants argue that the coronavirus outbreak will benefit student visas aspirants from India, Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, etc and their student visa approval rate will increase as Canada will look towards other countries.