Jalandhar (Gurpreet Singh/Rajeev Sharma): The protest by more than 1,000 Punjabi students in Calgary over the rejection of their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) applications has taken a new turn, with an alleged connection to a Jalandhar-based immigration consultancy coming under scrutiny.
The students have been demonstrating in Calgary for nearly 10 days, seeking relief after their applications for work permits were rejected by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The refusals have reportedly left students who had completed diploma programmes facing uncertainty over their ability to remain in Canada.
At the centre of the controversy is the Canadian Institute of Osteopathic Therapy (CIOT), which reportedly operated through a public-private partnership involving Portage College. The students had enrolled in programmes ranging from eight months to two years and paid substantial tuition fees with the expectation of being able to pursue employment opportunities after completing their studies.
Alleged Jalandhar link
Reports have alleged that the owner of a Jalandhar-based immigration firm was also a co-owner of CIOT. The businessman is currently believed to be in Dubai, where he is involved in the real estate sector.
Attempts to obtain his response to the allegations reportedly went unanswered.
However, people associated with the Jalandhar immigration industry have defended him, saying the students were taken to Canada through legal procedures and that subsequent changes in Canadian policies created the current problem.
Canadian immigration lawyer Kanwar Sierah, who reportedly brought attention to the alleged relationship between the immigration consultancy and CIOT, has said that he received a legal notice from Jalandhar following his comments.
Why were the applications rejected?
The students reportedly completed their courses last year before applying for PGWPs. A large number of applications were rejected around mid-July.
The refusals were reportedly based on the classification of the programmes as non-credit courses, which meant that the students did not meet the eligibility requirements for the post-study work permit.
For the students, the financial consequences are significant. Many reportedly paid approximately C$16,000 a year in tuition and had planned to gain Canadian work experience before seeking longer-term immigration options.
Now, instead of entering the workforce, they are pursuing judicial reviews of the refusals and seeking assistance from the Canadian Punjabi community.
Students could face return to India
The protesters have warned that they could be forced to leave Canada within around 70 days if they are unable to secure relief.
The issue has generated considerable concern among Punjabi families, many of whom made large financial investments based on the immigration and education rules applicable when their children enrolled.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has also weighed in on the controversy. While rejecting the description of Portage College as a “diploma mill”, she acknowledged that there have been cases where operators have established diploma-granting institutions and taken advantage of international students.
Smith maintained that students whose legal status expires without obtaining permanent residency would ultimately have to leave Canada.
Political pressure mounts
The controversy has also reached Punjab’s political circles.
BJP leader Sunil Jakhar has appealed for transitional measures for the affected students, arguing that their families made major investments relying on the rules that were in place when admissions were secured. He has urged the Ministry of External Affairs to raise the matter with Ottawa.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia has similarly backed the students and called on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Punjabi-origin Canadian MPs and the wider Punjabi community in Canada to support their demand.
Punjabi singer Amrit Maan has also visited the demonstration in Calgary, drawing further attention to the students’ campaign.
The dispute has now become a wider debate over the responsibilities of educational institutions, immigration consultants and governments when international students make major financial commitments based on the expectation of post-study work opportunities.
