Several students from India who had entered Canada with fraudulent acceptance letters to higher education institutions faced the risk of deportation. However, the Canadian authorities have temporarily halted their removal, providing some relief to these students. The exact number of affected students is unknown, but they were at risk of deportation due to allegations of using forged documents to secure admission. The students maintain that they were unaware of the fake documents and attribute the situation to immigration and educational consultants in India.

Sean Fraser, Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), stated that the government was suspending all pending removals of international students from India who may have entered the country with fraudulent acceptance letters. The focus is on identifying those responsible for the fraudulent activity rather than penalising the affected students. If it is clear that an international student genuinely intended to study in Canada and had no knowledge of fraudulent documentation, temporary resident permits will be issued to allow them to stay. This prevents them from facing a five-year ban on re-entry, which is typically imposed for misrepresentation cases.

While the exact number of students involved remains undisclosed, it seems that a significant portion comes from Punjab, a northern state in India. Some students have reported the fraud to the police in India. Investigations have led to the arrest of an individual named Rahul Bhargava, an employee of Education and Migration Services. The police are searching for his partners, Brijesh Mishra and Gurnam Singh, who face multiple charges under India's criminal, penal, and administrative codes.

The issue gained public attention in March when it was reported that numerous Indian students in Canada had been informed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) that their institutional acceptance letters were fraudulent. Upon arrival, the students discovered that the colleges they believed had accepted them were full, and they were directed to other institutions by immigration agents in India. The situation worsened when these students applied for permanent residence, as officials discovered their study and work activities did not align with their initial admissions. Consequently, deportation orders were issued for fraudulent stay in Canada.

Initially, media reports suggested that 700 students faced deportation, but the number is believed to be at least 340 according to Member of Parliament Jenny Kwan. Gurjit Singh, a Toronto-based supporter of the affected students, claims that the total number is 87, with 57 receiving removal notices and eight already being deported. Students who receive removal notices have the option to appeal to the federal court.

In response to the situation, a task force comprising senior officials from IRCC and CBSA has been established to evaluate each student's case individually. Factors such as completion of studies and knowledge of fraudulent schemes will be considered. Students found to be genuine applicants unaware of the fraud may be granted permission to stay in Canada for a few years to complete their studies or potentially work.

India's Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, has conveyed to Canadian authorities that the students should not be held responsible for agents' actions, and the Indian ministry has appealed for a sympathetic resolution of the cases. Punjab's state government has urged parents to verify college details and the track records of admission and travel agents before sending their children to study abroad.