Canada Opening Border for International Students from October 20

Congrats, international students! There is fantastic news for you. From October 20, 2020, you can enter Canada. 

Wondering if it is too good to be true? Well, there is a catch. You can enter Canada only when your college has a territorial government approved Covid-19 readiness plan. 

The Designated Learning Institutions are likely to send the details of the readiness plan to the territorial or provincial government, who monitors Canada’s education system. 

What Should the Plans Include? 

The government has mandated what should be there in the plan. Some of the points that must be there in the plan are:

The plan should specify how institutions are planning to notify international students about travel and health requirements before entering the country. 

The institutions must specify how they are planning to maintain quarantine plans. They must mention the various steps that guide international students. They must also elucidate how they will provide groceries and medicines during the quarantine period. 

The institutions also lay down the precautionary steps to protect health and ensure safety. They should also explain how they are going to take care of the students who are COVID positive. 

Immigration, refugees, citizenship Canada, also known as IRCC, will soon declare the approved DLIs list. 

The IRCC has clearly stated that the new guideline is applicable for all international students. It doesn’t matter when they get the permit or where they stay now. They have to abide by all the guidelines. That is why the immigration department has recommended travelers to avoid making any travel plans until they have fulfilled the eligibility criteria and received all other necessary authorizations. 

Raed More: Canada Boosted Application Processing for Spousal Sponsorship

Can the Immediate Family Members Come With International Students? 

The immediate family members can come with international students.But the reason behind the visit to Canada must be essential. Family members have to prove that they are coming to the country out of necessity. They want to help their children to settle in the country for the study program. This includes arranging accommodation for the students and taking care of the other urgent issues. 

Now the big question is ‘who is considered as the immediate family member?’ 

Well, the immediate family members are partners and common-law partners. Dependents of international students can also pay a visit to the country. However, if the student is not an adult, then parents or the legal guardian can come with him or her. 

Is There Any Special Rule for the International Students and Accompanying Family Members?

Yes. 

International students and their family members have to follow a unique guideline. And that is, they have to follow all the public health safety rules after reaching Canada. Plus, they have also to maintain a critical 14-day quarantine period. 

What Is the Minimum Eligibility Criteria for International Students Who Want to Enter Canada? 

There are strict eligibility criteria for the international students who want to enter Canada after the new measure comes into effect. 

International students should be asymptomatic. 

They have to submit all the necessary documents regarding the travel permit. 

Once students cross the border, they have to explain the reason behind their visit to Canada. Students need to show that they are traveling for an important cause. Then only will the immigrant officers allow them to enter the country. 

What about the tourists? Well, they have to show papers and prove their purpose of visit. Their goal of the visit is discretionary or optional, which is tourism. They have to offer the requisite documents to the officers. 

Read More: Canada Support Immigrants to Reduce Financial Burden of Pandemic

Why Did the Canadian Government Finally Take This Measure?

The Canadian government has taken this measure after receiving countless requests from international students. They have finally decided to enter the country since international students are suffering a lot due to travel restrictions. Online tuitions are an option. But they do not help international students. Time differences and poor Internet connection are creating severe disruptions.

Moreover, some colleges are not even offering remote learning options to international students. So, that is creating another problem for international students. That is probably why the Canadian government has taken this step. 

The immigration minister Marco Mendicino and health minister Patty Hajdu are working hard with provincial and territorial governments to help international students enter Canada safely. The new guidelines apply to all international students and citizens. The new rule does not apply to the students who already have a study permit and living in Canada. 

Canada has already accepted and approved 56000 study permit applications in the first stage of its measure. 

Read More: Canada Expands Post-graduate Work Permit Eligibility for Students Affected by COVID-19

Conclusion 

It is an excellent Canadian government initiative when students are getting desperate to pursue their higher studies in a foreign country. Many countries like Germany are still not allowing international students to the country. Students have appealed to the foreign embassy countless times in the last few months. But the foreign embassies are not allowing students to enter in their countries. The whole year is almost over and time is running out. Countries are not relaxing their strict protocols as the second wave of Covid-19 is expected to hit anytime soon. 

Let us hope that all countries follow what Canada is doing. Public health is essential. There is no doubt about it. But if international students are in good health and follow all the protocols, there is no reason to stop them from visiting the country. Also, many countries are discriminating against students, depending on the place from where they are coming. That is so unfortunate.

The foreign embassies are not allowing students from high COVID risk countries to study in the countries. For example, Indian students are facing this kind of problem the most. But that is not right as all students are not COVID positive. So, other countries must take cues from the Canadian government and implement adequate measures as soon as possible. International students should not suffer anymore.