Canada Uncovers Over 10,000 Fake Student Acceptance Letters
Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) has revealed that over 10,000 fake foreign student acceptance letters were uncovered, raising alarms about the integrity of international student admissions. This discovery follows the implementation of stricter verification measures aimed at addressing the rising number of fraudulent documents.
Bronwyn May, Director-General of the International Students Branch at IRCC, informed a parliamentary committee that these enhanced checks were introduced after reviewing 500,000 student applications over the past year. While the majority of the letters were genuine, a significant number raised concerns. The verification process confirmed that 93% of the acceptance letters were legitimate, but 2% were fraudulent, and 1% were linked to canceled admissions.
The findings revealed that some universities and colleges had failed to adequately verify the authenticity of student acceptance letters before admitting students. These issues became more apparent following cases in 2023, where international students, deceived by fraudulent letters from an unlicensed consultant in India, faced potential deportation. In response, the government made it mandatory for educational institutions to confirm acceptance letters through an online portal for all applicants, both within and outside Canada.
Jenny Kwan, immigration critic for the New Democratic Party, expressed deep concern over the findings, calling them “extremely alarming.” She stressed the importance of protecting international students who had been defrauded and urged the government to address the issue swiftly to prevent damage to Canada’s reputation as a top destination for global students. Kwan also emphasized the need for support for students misled by the fraudulent letters.
International students play a crucial role in Canada’s economy, contributing through tuition fees, job creation, and cultural exchange, making the integrity of the admissions process essential.
