Visa fight hurts foreign students
By Sarah Cruickshank. Universities need to offer international students ways to cope during labour dispute with service officers. For a country built on successful immigration policies, it's troubling to see unnecessary obstacles placed in front of international students. These individuals are driven to pursue higher education, eager to participate in Canadian culture, and willing to contribute to our Canadian economy.
A large number of potential international students are struggling with delays in visa processing times. This is a direct result of the labour dispute between the Canadian government and the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers, the union that represents the staff at the many Citizenship and Immigration Canada offices. These students may be compelled to delay their studies or to pursue degrees in other countries. And that's likely to present them with a number of additional challenges. Read more...