Study Permit Process in Canada: What the Closure of the Fast-Track Student Direct Stream Means for International Students
There has been a major flip in the study permit process in Canada with the sudden closure of the popular Student Direct Stream, affecting international students from 14 countries-majorly from India. The SDS fast-track program has been an essential addition to the lives of many students in securing their study permits in Canada more promptly than they may have otherwise expected. So what’s this closure going to do for the Indian international student and changes set for the study permit process in Canada.
What is SDS?
A new program was introduced in 2018: the Canada Student Direct Stream, designed to fast-track study permits for students from 14 countries, including India, China, and the Philippines. Applications within an average of 20 days in the SDS scheme meant students were able to take advantage of this option and get their study permits in a much shorter time compared to applications submitted over the standard route. That, with barriers of fewer requirements, is indeed what made this option very appealing to international students.
Apart from the speed, approvals for SDS were also greater than for a standard study permit application. Specifically, it was higher for Indians. For instance, Indian nationals who were included in the early 2023 SDS had an approval rate of more than 73%. The same origin applicants who applied through the standard process, however, had only about 10% approval.
Why Was the Student Direct Stream (SDS) Program So Popular?
Such closure of the Canada Student Direct Stream is crucial because SDS has already emerged as the choice of international students and provides many more critical benefits, among which the important ones include:
Much Higher Approval Rate: SDS applicants registered much more approval rates than the rest who are not covered by SDS. It was recorded that in the early stages of 2023 that the rate of approval of Indian students under SDS is 76%, whereas only 8% of applicants in the regular stream have received the approval.
Faster Processing Times: The SDS program avowed a much shorter processing time of about 20 days, which helped students avoid long-haul uncertainties that go with the regular stream.
Simplification Requirements: There were fewer hurdles of documentation for SDS and hence less trouble during application for international students, provided they fit into the criteria for the SDS.
Because of these advantages, a staggering 80% of Indian students applied to Canada through the SDS stream in 2022 and even more in early 2023.
Instant Impact of Shutdown of Canada SDS
Canada has decided to shut down its student direct stream program. There would be immediate effect from this shutdown on the international students. How so? Let’s break them down to the primary effects below:
Long processing time: All study permit applications are required to process in the regular stream if there is no SDS. The regular stream, otherwise, has had a long processing time, and therefore, there would not have been many assurances of being approved quickly.
Lower rates of approvals for Indian students: Closing SDS may have resulted in a declining rate of approvals among Indian students since the regular stream has traditionally had much lower success of approval.
Increased Influx in the Regular Stream: Higher numbers of applications under the regular study permit process may lead to increased waiting times as well as a greater rivalry among the students seeking to go to Canada.
Impact of Closing of Canada's SDS on Indian Students
Such a huge shock it is for Indian students who have begun taking this program very seriously. The approval rate for Indian students through SDS is much higher compared to its regular counterpart, providing Indian students with a much-needed advantage while trying to conquer the competition presented by the study permit of Canada. Without the SDS now, Indian students might find it hard to procure a Canadian study permit as they have to complete with all the rest.
The change comes at a time when Canada is still considered a destination for tens of thousands of Indian students every year. Now, with no fast-track option, students from India may have to start preparing sooner and could be in for a possibly much longer application process.
What's Ahead for Canada's Study Permit Process?
This marks the eventual closure of the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) stream, which, like this stream, utilized a conditional speedy application process for Nigerian students. The closure of both programs shifts the Canadian approach to the application processing of international students.
From now onwards, all applications from students seeking a study permit will have to come through the standard application. As for new fast track options, Canada has given no clear word regarding such options in the future, but in any case, this change requires good planning for students who seek intent to study in Canada.
Conclusion
Closing Down of Canada’s Student Direct Stream Ends the turning point of study permit processes in Canada for international students. Though it has many advantages with higher approval rates and faster processing, SDS was also a popular route. SDS, especially, has been one of the most beneficial opportunities for Indian students. Now that the SDS is closed, students will have to pass a tougher exercise through the standard stream.
It means students must plan applications ahead and exhaust every avenue to power them up for Indian students as well as for other students. Still, it remains that Canada is one of the great countries for international students, but the end of SDS will make the journey a little more difficult to attain for several aspiring students.
