The IRCC has suddenly changed rules for foreign students. Around 2:00 ET of November 8, 2024, IRCC ended the SDS program officially. It means that foreign students who used the fast track SDS route must apply through the common study permit procedure.
What did the SDS mean?
The Student Direct Stream (SDS) was started in 2018 especially to provide streamlines and faster process of study visa applications from the selected countries for international students.
Key features included under Student Direct Stream:
Candidates from countries like: Vietnam, the Philippines, China and India, etc. were eligible.
Candidates need to meet some criteria: tuition payment for the first year, language test results, admission to a designated learning institution, a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) in Canada.
Major Benefit: Faster application Processing Time as compared to the Regular Study Permit Stream, for qualified applicants sometimes decision comes in just 20 business days.
Why Did IRCC Shut Down SDS?
There are some that came behind the decision:
To boost programme ethics, this ensures the same fairness and standards applied to all the applicants, that reduces misuse possibility.
To ensure fair and equal access for all foreign students, the Canadian government documented the objective of giving fair and equal access to all students after SDS and the same streams closed.
Management of the increasing impact and volume of temporary residents that include work permit holders and study permit holders on infrastructure, resources and housing in Canada.
This change was announced in 2024 to the international student program of Canada: cap on additional requirements for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and new study permits.
How Will SDS Affect Future Students?
After closing of SDS Program, this will give a hard impact on the students who are planning to study in Canada:
No more fast track for eligible countries — If you are from a country which was earlier eligible for SDS program, now your application will pass through a regular study visa process.
Increase in Processing time — Students from countries with a high number of applicants like India may face longer waiting. Let’s have an example: With the closure of the SDS program, the average processing time of applications from India was observed around 8 weeks.
Requirement of earlier planning — As you can’t trust on an expedite, you should plan finances, visa application, documentation, and your admission with adequate buffer time.
Requirements of application with standard stream — Students need to make sure that they meet all standard requirements for study permit (proof of funds, acceptance from a DLI (Designated Learning Institution) etc.). The previous SDS checklist (Dedicated Stream Eligibility and GIC amount) is not relevant in the same manner.
Suggestions for Students who need to navigating the New Environment
With the withdrawal of SDS, here are some tips that should be adapted:
Begin your application process early — Obtaining language test results, arranging finances, getting acceptance, choosing an institution, and submitting your study permit application early.
Make sure you meet all the requirements for study-permit documentation: proof of funds, valid letter of acceptance, if required police certificate, medical exam etc.
Monitor processing times for your country and then plan accordingly. Delays are more common now.
If you were trusting on the SDS route, then re-check your budget and eligibility — let’s say you might have GIC arrangements for SDS; still you need to present your financial capability under the regular process.
Keep up to date on next changes in policy — International Student Policy in Canada is going through a number of major revisions, so the changes may keep going.
In Summary
The closure of the SDS Stream marks a notable change for foreign students who want to apply for study permits in Canada. After shutting down the SDS stream, fast track applications have to go through the normal study permit pathway, this may involve long application processing time, more competition and higher demand for advance planning.
