Marc Miller announces new measures to strengthen border security. 

The Minister provided information on the effects of new visitor visa policies & measures targeting abuse in Canada’s asylum system. He also discussed the possibility of forthcoming changes to the international student program. 

New Regulations And Fines For Fraudulent Actors 

To strengthen Canada’s border, IRCC will introduce harsh fines as well as penalties for fraudulent immigration consultants and representatives.

Under these new regulations, IRCC and the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants will be able to impose monetary fines of up to 1.5 million dollars. Moreover, they will publicly display the names of bad actors on IRCC websites in a ‘naming and shaming’ campaign. 

Extension Of Information-Sharing Agreements 

Marc Miller announces new measures to strengthen border security. He also declared that Canada’s information-sharing agreement with the US would be extended. 

The government has processes for sharing relevant information about countries with foreign nations. Well, the scope of these processes will be extended to include permanent residents in both Canada and the US. 

Miller stated that this information is mission-critical to have a safe border. He further said that by granting this extension, both nations would be better equipped to speed up applications, make informed decisions, and prevent fraud. 

Miller has not shared details on how this process will be implemented but has stated that there will be safeguards to protect privacy. 

Increased Scrutiny On Visitor Visa 

Minister Miller stated that there has been heightened scrutiny on visitor visa applications in Canada. He said that they have put in place new measures to detect fraud. Since then, they have seen a major reduction in the number of asylum claims from people who have been issued temporary resident visas. 

According to Miller, this heightened scrutiny has resulted in an 89% overall reduction in foreign nationals crossing illegally into the US, since June 2024. 

The Minister further stated that visa refusals are up by more than 61% for nations where Canada spotted the highest levels of abuse. 

Possible Changes To The International Student Program 

Marc Miller declares measures to enhance border security.

In response to Canada’s international student program, Minister Miller stated that he had no forthcoming plans for major changes. However, he did not rule out the possibility of more changes entirely.

He further stated that the immigration department has seen a 91% drop in illegal US crossings by those holding Canadian study permits since implementing further measures to verify students’ letters of acceptance at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).

This declaration comes as the IRCC tightens border security measures, including ending the practice of flagpoling in December. 

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490. You can also drop us an email at [email protected].