More updates and changes on the Canadian study permit saga

The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) just spilled the beans on their plans for study permits in 2024, and it's time to break it down without the jargon.

So, here's the scoop: the IRCC is putting a cap on the number of study permit applications they'll even consider in 2024 – a whopping 606,250 of them! Hold on, though, because this cap is different from the one they threw at us on January 22nd, which was about study permit approvals and not the total applications.

In simple terms, over the next 11 months, the IRCC is setting a limit on how many study permit applications they'll process – that's the 606,250 number. It doesn't matter what decision they make on each application; they're committed to dealing with this massive bunch.

But here's the fun twist: the instructions say that this cap might get a makeover if the minister gives some new directions. Translation: if the IRCC doesn't hit the 360,000 approved study permit cap within the 606,250 applications, the minister might wave their magic wand and increase that number.

Now, let's take a peek at the numbers from 2023. Drumroll, please! Out of 814,317 applications processed between January and November, 579,075 study permits got the green light. That's a cool 71% approval rate. Fast forward to 2024, and the announced caps are like a party pooper, showing a significant drop in both processing and approvals for study permit applications.

Now, for the nitty-gritty on how this new study permit cap will roll. The 360,000 approval cap will be spread across Canada's provinces, weighed by their populations. Get ready, Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia – you're the stars of the show, being the three most populated provinces.

How's this policy going to work its magic? Through attestation letters! If you're eyeing a study permit, you'll need a golden ticket – a letter of acceptance (LOA) from your chosen learning spot and an attestation letter from the province where it's at.

Here's the secret sauce: those attestation letters need to be written and signed by the provincial/territorial government, confirming you've got a spot within their study permit approval cap. It's like an exclusive invitation to the Canadian study permit party.

So, buckle up, future students, and get ready for these changes by the IRCC. The good news is , you do not have to face them alone. We can help.