Canadian High Commissioner to India Chris Cooter has reassured Indian students that Canada remains open and welcoming, describing the current period as the 'best time ever' to apply for studies. Speaking to ANI, Cooter addressed widespread misconceptions in India that Canada has become less receptive to international students following recent immigration policy changes.
Misconceptions About Closed Doors
Cooter acknowledged a 'misperception in India that Canada is shutting the doors,' but firmly stated, 'That is not at all the case.' He explained that a cap on international students was introduced a couple of years ago due to housing shortages and concerns over the quality of some educational institutions. 'There simply wasn't enough housing, there were some fly-by-night colleges, we wanted to clean that up. But we've done that,' he said.
Canada Hosts 400,000 International Students
Highlighting Canada's continued appeal, Cooter noted that the country currently hosts around 400,000 international students. 'That's more than the EU, UK, and Australia combined. It's more than the US hosts,' he said. He emphasized that Canadian universities offer world-class education, with institutions like McGill and the University of Toronto ranking among the top 20 globally.
Student Intake Below Caps
Cooter stressed that student intake remains below the imposed caps, ensuring ample space for applicants. 'Students are welcome. We haven't even reached those caps. So actually, this is probably the best time ever to apply as an Indian student, because we want you there and there's space in these caps,' he said.
Visa Processing Improvements Underway
Addressing concerns about visa processing delays and inconsistencies, Cooter said the Canadian government is actively working to improve the system following Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to India earlier this year, from February 27 to March 2. 'Both the business people and the students tell us about the problems they have with getting the visa. It seems inconsistent or it takes too long,' he said.
'I can tell you that as a result of the Prime Minister's visit here only two and a half months ago, we're actively at work on fixing those problems, making the experience much better for the student, for the parent, for the business people,' Cooter added. He expressed a goal to make Canada's visa process 'best in class,' stating, 'If we have to have visas, let's do it better than everybody else. And so we are very actively working on that right now.'
