The University hasn’t been updated on the new provincial attestation requirement following Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) immediate cap on the number of undergraduate international students allowed to study in Canada.
Any undergraduate international students who applied to Queen’s after Jan. 22 must provide a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from Ontario attached with their study permit application. The PAL serves as proof the potential international student is included within the province’s allocation as part of the cap.
Provincial governments are required to have a plan in place for issuing PALs by Mar. 31.
READ MORE: University ‘concerned’ about cap on international students
“Details of the new processes relating to IRCC’s recently announced measures affecting international students’ study permit applications, and the new provincial attestation that will be required, have not been communicated to institutions,” Queen’s said in a statement to The Journal.
The University is informing international students who accept their admission offer that they will receive a letter of acceptance necessary for PAL and study permit applications, according to the international student study permit FAQ.
“We’re confident the University will be able to work with both levels of government to ensure Queen’s continues to offer access to high quality post-secondary education and an exceptional experience for our international students,” the University said.
The University won’t limit their outreach to prospective international students. There are currently 3,735 international students at Queen’s, but the University receives thousands of applications from international students each year, according to the 2023-24 enrolment report.
The international student cap doesn’t apply to graduate or postdoctoral studies.
International students are encouraged to attend online drop-in events hosted by the Queen’s University International Centre, or attend the QueensU Bound online event on Feb. 13. Students may speak in-person with international agents and in-country recruitment representatives from Queen’s.
The Journal requested interviews with international student recruiters, but none were available for interviews according to the University.
Jill Dunlop, provincial minister of colleges and universities, and Steve Orsini, president of the Council of Ontario Universities, were unable to accommodate an interview with The Journal.
Tags
Federal politics, international students, Provincial politics
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