Amid pandemic-induced travel uncertainty, international students enrolled at Canadian universities are worried - now more than ever - that they won't get refunds on tuition fees.
As part of applications for study visas, students using the fast-track study permit Student Direct Stream were required to pay for a full year of study up front.
However, due to college policies and visa processing delays, some students are unable to withdraw from their courses and get refunds, causing stress and frustration.
For students who wish to withdraw or apply to a different country, Canadian institutions require they present a student visa refusal from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Without this, colleges hold back large sums of money - something the students say they can't afford.
One student studying at Hanson College in Ontario said: "If my visa application is refused and I still withdraw I will be given a refund minus C$500 (HK$3,070). But I put in my application in October 2020 and still have had no response from IRCC."
The student believes IRCC is processing more recent applications first, which is why the application has got stuck in a backlog.
Other students said that they have been waiting for extended periods of time for IRCC to answer queries about their visa applications.
With visa applications neither being accepted nor refused, students have been left hanging and without full refunds, putting some in precarious financial situations. Some may lose up to C$2,200 due to the delay, while others may not get back anything.
