Punjab students spend Rs 68,000 crores of tuition fee each year to study in Canada

According to the officials, despite a growing diplomatic dispute between the two nations, Canada continues to grant visas to Indian citizens, including students. Aspiring students are still lining up to enrol in colleges and institutions for the January intake as they regularly do. This is true even though BLS, India’s Canadian visa processing facilities, this week suspended visa services citing operational concerns.

Whopping Rs 68,000 crore in capital leaves Punjab every year

It is estimated that a whopping Rs 68,000 crore in capital leaves Punjab every year among parents who spend a lot of money sending their children to Canada for education.

2,26,450 visas for Indian students were accepted in 2022, according to information from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). With an average course length of two to three years, roughly 1.36 lakh of these students came from Punjab the previous academic year. According to information provided by several organisations that process student visas, it is believed that there are currently close to 3.4 lakh Punjabi students enrolled in various Canadian educational institutions.

“As per the figures available with us, nearly 60 per cent of the Indians moving from India to Canada are Punjabis, with an estimated figure of 1.36 lakh students going last year. The average fee being paid by each student per annum comes to nearly 17,000 Canadian dollars. In addition, they have to deposit 10,200 Canadian dollars as Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) funds.” Says Association of Consultants for Overseas Studies Chairman Kamal Bhumla.

Bhumla stated that, up until 2008, only 38,000 Punjabis travelled to Canada annually. He has been in the visa processing business for over three decades.

Sandeep Makkar, an employee of a private corporation with two daughters enrolled in degree programmes at Canadian colleges, stated, “On an average, I had to shell out nearly Rs 22 lakh per child per year, including fee, GIC and overhead expenses. Depending on the standards of living that they maintain in Canada, children need 3000-5500 Canadian dollars per annum, which the parents have to shell out for at least the first two years.”

Safety of Hindu students in Canada

Hindus from India are safe and welcome in Canada, according to federal public safety officials, following a viral video from a pro-Khalistan group that ordered Hindus to leave. Ruby Sahota, a Punjabi-born member of parliament for Brampton North, stated on X (previously Twitter) that there shouldn’t be any conflict between the Sikh and Hindu populations in Canada, she added: “There has been a video circulating targeting Hindu-Cdns, asking on them to move back to India. This is against Canadian and Liberal values. I will always stand up for everyone’s rights. I condemn this statement and any hate towards Hindu-Cdns. Such speech has no place in Canada.”

India’s contribution to Canadian economy

Just behind China, India is the country from which most international students enter Canada. 118,095 Indians were granted permanent residency in Canada in 2022. Of these, 59,503 Indians converted to Canadian citizenship. Chandigarh-based immigration advisors told IANS that there is no effect from the “diplomatic standoff” between the two countries, making the admissions process and the enthusiasm of Indian students for admittance to Canadian institutions and universities regular.

The Post-Graduation Work Permit Programme allows international students to apply for work permits after they graduate. In accordance with this programme, a work visa may be granted for a maximum of three years, or for the duration of the study programme.

The Canadian government estimates that the economy benefits from the more than $15.3 billion a year that international students bring in. There are no limitations on the kind of employment allowed when holding a work or study visa. A source of educated, young labour is provided by the hundreds of Indian graduates who choose to settle in Canada every year.

Please, also have a look into : Khalistani terrorist Sukhdool Singh killed in Canada, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi claims responsibility