Canada wants Indian students back. The University of Toronto is offering each one a visa ‘concierge’

The University of Toronto is trying to win back Indian students after two difficult years. Its president, Melanie Woodin, says the university now assigns a dedicated immigration officer to every student who receives an offer.

We invested a lot of our own resources so that every student that now receives an offer has a concierge, white glove service. — Melanie Woodin, President, University of Toronto

Woodin said 90% of the university’s students who apply for visas receive them.

Why now

India-Canada relations collapsed after the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia and Canada’s allegations of Indian government involvement, which India rejected. Canada also capped international student permits. Applications from India fell for two years.

Ties have improved under Prime Minister Mark Carney, and the two governments are expanding cooperation on talent and research. Woodin said applications from India have risen this year, though they remain below historical levels.

What’s on offer

• Visa and immigration support from offer to arrival.
• The university’s India Foundation, set up three years ago with funding from Tata Trusts.
• Research partnerships in urban sustainability and artificial intelligence, including with IIT Bombay and Reliance Jio University.

If you are applying

Canada remains cheaper than the US for many courses and offers post-study work permits, but rules have changed often in the past two years. Check the latest permit caps and work rules on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website before you commit, and ask universities exactly what visa support they provide.

Sources: ThePrint.