Immigration minister Marc Miller shared details of the reforms in a speech last week, including a new process which will see post-secondary Designated Learning Institutions asked to use a new IRCC automated solution that will verify all letters of acceptance upfront before study permit applications are finalised.

IRCC had previously communicated to education partners and stakeholders that the objective is to “protect vulnerable students from nefarious actors and preserve the integrity of the International Student Program”.

It added that currently the integrity of the program is supported by “several layers of verification to ensure that inauthentic documents and nefarious actors are identified”, but added that this is done on a case-by-case basis.

Initially, DLIs were told participation in the new process was not going to be mandatory, but IRCC confirmed to The PIE that post-secondary DLIs will be required to validate LOAs submitted in overseas study permit applications, as outlined by Miller.

Virtual training sessions will be held for DLIs throughout October and November to explain how to sign up for the portal and verify the acceptance letters.

Meanwhile, more details on further reforms in the shape of a “recognised institution framework” are expected to be shared in 2024.

In September, Graham Barber, assistant director of international relations at Universities Canada spoke to The PIE on some of the benefits at play for the sector through the framework including “lighter touch processing” for recognised institutions as well as more trust between the federal government and institutions.

Speaking to The PIE this week about the newly announced reforms, Barber said that Canadian institutions have “built their brand on world class programs and high admissions standards and fake LOAs harm the admissions process leading to students arriving on our campuses without a place in classrooms”.

“Universities hope that the new system can evolve to seamlessly move student information between our institutions and IRCC to ensure students are provided with the best experience possible,” Barber continued.

One stakeholder welcoming change is immigration consultant and owner of Study2Stay, Earl Blaney.

Blaney told The PIE the reforms “fit well with the federal government’s awakened constitutional responsibility to prevent fraud in Canada’s immigration system”.

He described the previous LOA verification system as “basically an honour system, most unsuitable for an industry ripe with fraud”.

He also approved of the move to establish a robust international process, rather than outsourcing verification to third parties.

However, despite the changes, Blaney said that students must remain vigilant about selecting service providers, especially if it is the case that in the new process students will not know if their refusal was caused by a fraudulent letter specifically.

“There is still some room for agents to manipulate LOAs for sale overseas – but actually entering Canada with these in hand now becomes highly unlikely,” said Blaney.

Although Blaney believes the reforms are a step in the right direction, there is more to be done to eliminate wider fraud in the sector, he told The PIE.

“Integrity is central to the success of Canada’s ISP”

He highlighted Australia’s current crack-down on student poaching and an abuse of its education system from operators driven by commercial gain and suggested similar policies could benefit the Canadian sector.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for CBIE said the organisation is “heartened” that IRCC has acknowledged systemic challenges and is committed to addressing them, adding that its institutions “welcome the opportunity to partner with IRCC in guarding this important pathway to learning in Canada”.

“Integrity is central to the success of Canada’s ISP,” the spokesperson said.