Shillong, September 22: Ravi Veeravalli, Principal Consultant at Star Global Education Alliance, has expressed concerns over a potential decline in the number of Indian students choosing Canada for higher studies due to the current India-Canada situation. He mentioned that many students who initially favored Canada as their study destination are now exploring alternatives in countries like the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the USA.
As per IANS, Veeravalli pointed out that there is a growing sense of uneasiness among Indian students in Canada, who fear potential retaliation. Parents of students studying in Canada are closely monitoring the situation and advising their children to follow instructions from the Indian Embassy.
While cost considerations initially attracted students to Canada, Veeravalli emphasized that Indian students make up a substantial portion of international students in Canada. In 2022, around 2,25,000 Indian students were granted visas for Canada. Their contribution to both the Canadian economy and addressing skill shortages is significant.
Despite a 50 percent decrease in visa approvals, Canada remains a top choice for North Indian students. The appeal lies in post-study work permits, which typically span from 1 to 3 years, providing a pathway to permanent residency (PR) in Canada. Over the past two years, Canada has granted over 10 lakh visas to Indians, including visitors, students, and citizenship applications. Canada consistently approves more than 4,00,000 PR applications each year, with a substantial number coming from people of Indian origin.