Canada’s denial of study visas reveals possible systemic bias towards Africans

The quest to leave Africa for countries believed to be better is rising amongst African youths. The exodus is an expected phenomenon, as every human's innate desire is to go after things or places they consider better than what they have. In the last decade, many countries in Africa have experienced an economic downturn that has unfortunately set the stage for the growth of societal maladies, moral decadence, and irrational desperation for an exit. In 2021, Nigeria was listed as a top 10 source country for international students, according to Statistics Canada. In 2019, Nigeria became the fourth leading source of new permanent residents immigrants to Canada, behind India, China, and the Philippines. For many, leaving their African countries for Canada will allow them to experience better systems or work in better conditions. The most frequent requests immigration consultants receive are from African students. A testament to young Africans’ burning thirst for success is the quest to seek quality education outside the shores of Africa—a tedious process characterized by extensive research, writing, and of course, spending. However, it is pathetic that despite the efforts being made to ensure the transition to these "greener pastures," there appears to be a discreet bias in Canada's immigration system. In their pursuit of greener pastures, African applicants are subjected to demanding immigration processes structured to work against them. This article will factually dissect the dilemma around the high rejection rate of Canadian study visa denials and the possibility of a racially motivated system in existence. Tunde Omotoye holds a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant license and currently runs a startup called HumanSquad. Photograph courtesy of Tunde Omotoye Every young African looking to come to Canada must apply for a visa. The requirements for a student visa includes proof of financial means, an international passport, appropriate visa application form, admission into an institution in Canada, among many more. There are several reasons why applicants are denied visas, chief of which is the inability to meet the required criteria for approval. However, many Canadian immigration consultants will tell you of the increased and continuous denials of student visa applications submitted by Africans. It is as though Canada keeps saying “we want lots of immigrants, but no, not from Africa.” Some analysis suggests students from India or China with similar background to a student from Africa is more likely to get their visa approved. For instance, this edition by ApplyInsights shows the only African country on this 10-country list—Nigeria—has the lowest approval rate for study visa applications to Canada. Why is this so? Is there a bias in the system? According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada data, three out of four African study visa applications to Canada between January to May 2019 were denied. Typically, the reasons for rejection include: Suspicions the student may not return upon completing studies Lack of funds Inadequate proof of home ties While these may seem good reasons on paper, there are thousands of African applicants who do their best to meet and surpass the requirements but still end up rejected. In 2018, Canada refused visas to dozens of researchers, mostly from Africa. These researchers were poised to attend an artificial intelligence event in Montreal. Despite submitting letters of recommendations from extremely credible people and organizations, they were denied. Despite efforts by the concerned authorities, the rejection rates did not change in 2019 when the same conference held in Montreal, and of course, the majority of rejected applicants again were from Africa. It is even more infuriating that the reasons provided for the visa rejections are usually vague and never convincing. They end up leaving applicants and immigration consultants with more questions. In many cases, when African students directed to other countries in Europe, for example U.K., they get their applications approved with ease. This data on U.K. visas, for instance, shows study applicants from Nigeria have only 7.8 per cent refusal rate. The consistent rejection of Africans applicants by the Canadian immigration system should not be seen as normal. The immigration system needs to do better with its responses and reasons for rejections. Study permits approval rates have become a significant hindrance to the actualization of the dreams of African immigrants. The Canadian immigration system needs to be more flexible and thorough while still maintaining a standard approach to ensuring that suspicions of fraud are properly dealt with. Tunde Omotoye holds a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant license and studied Immigration at CID College in Scarborough, Ont. He currently runs a startup called HumanSquad in Toronto which primarily focuses on Study Visa applications to Canada. After arriving as a student in Canada in 2015, Omotoye has used his experience and knowledge of the immigration landscape to help new or old immigrants. The Hill Times

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Canada’s denial of study visas reveals possible systemic bias towards Africans

In their pursuit of greener pastures, African applicants are subjected to demanding immigration processes structured to work against them.

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