Nearly 4.9 million temporary visas will expire! Canadian immigration minister says they will 'voluntarily' leave the country
Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that it is expected that nearly 4.9 million residents holding temporary visas will leave Canada after their visas expire next year. The minister's comment was made at the Congressional Citizenship and Immigration Committee meeting on Monday. Conservative MP Tom Kmiec asked the minister how the government knows how many of the 4.9 million temporary visa holders who are about to expire will leave Canada.
Kmiec specifically mentioned that there will be 766000 international students whose study permits will expire by the end of 2025. He asked, "Minister, how do you ensure that those whose visas have expired will leave? Are there clear measures to monitor and enforce this
Miller stated that these visa holders "promised to voluntarily leave after their visas expired when they came to Canada. The government will collaborate with the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) to investigate and prosecute individuals who violate immigration laws.
Image source: mangpor2004
Regarding the issue of international students, Miller clarified that students whose visas have expired are not only allowed to leave. They can choose to renew their study permit or apply for a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to extend their stay in Canada.
Miller also mentioned that an increasing number of international students are submitting "almost hopeless" asylum applications. The federal government plans to propose amendments to the immigration and asylum system in the coming weeks.
Miller's remarks come against the backdrop of the federal government announcing plans to cut immigration targets next year.
Permanent resident target: Reduce the annual population from 500000 to 395000 by 2024, and plan to further reduce to 365000 by 2026.
Temporary Resident Goal: Plan to reduce the total temporary resident population by 5% by 2026. The federal government expects that the temporary resident population in 2025 and 2026 will decrease by 445901 and 445662 respectively compared to the previous year.
In 2027, the temporary resident population is expected to increase slightly by 17439 people.
Image source: Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive
Canada is gradually reducing its targets for temporary and permanent residents. With policy changes, the immigration system will also undergo revisions to more effectively manage residency issues after visa expiration and ensure fairness and efficiency in immigration and asylum applications.
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