AHMEDABAD: Anand Patel (name changed), 24, a native of Jamnagar, had started his Canadian journey with dreams of making it big in the world of finance in foreign land earlier this year.
Amid much fanfare, he had started off for Kitchener in Ontario to pursue PG in financial management after completing MA in economics back home.
“I got a bitter reality check after a month of stay in Canada as I struggled to get a decent job.
“With my educational background, I was confident that I would land a good office job and support my stay and education. But an excess supply of students with permits to work for more than 20 hours a week made landing work a mission impossible,” recounts Anand.
Exorbitant lodging and boarding bills were unsustainable as his parents had arranged only for his travel and initial expenses to settle down.
“Nobody discusses the hardships when showing a rosy picture of Canada as an international study destination, says Anand.
Canada govt has doubled GIC amount from Jan 1
Nobody discusses the hardships when showing a rosy picture of Canada as an international study destination. With the huge influx of students annually, everything gets expensive, and if we don’t have an income stream, it gets difficult to foot the bills,” says Anand. “Against average living expenses of 1,000 Canadian dollars per month, a job provides for about 900 dollars. Sans it, parents have to send Rs 60,000- 80,000 per month which can break anybody’s back.” When his desperate efforts failed to land him work, Anand decided to fly back to India after five months and losing more than Rs 12 lakh. “There are many like me — but there are many more who cannot take the step as they have already incurred huge educational loans and have created an aura around them. They do not want to tarnish that image and wallow in depression,” he says, adding that he has already selected a few colleges for the next academic year in India.
The new rules released by the Canadian government on Thursday which include doubling of the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) amount of Canadian dollars 20,635 effective from January 1 from existing 10,000 dollars, may add another hurdle. Revised calculation of study period online and cancellation of 18-month extension post course completion may add to woes of Indian students there, believe experts. Bhavin Thakkara city-based immigration consultant, said that the hike in GIC amount will translate into extra financial burden on parents. “It means that the parents have to shell out a minimum Rs 6.5-7 lakh extra. Of course, the January term’s intake is over, and these students would not be affected by the rise. The next intake for September would show the extent of impact of the new rules,” he said.
“The amount is revised after two decades. In comparison, cost of living is revised annually for most countries, and twice a year for countries like Australia. Those who wish to go would surely shell it out,” said Parthesh Thakkar, an education abroad consultant. The agents pegged the number of students from Gujarat going to Canada between 35,000 to 50,000 annually. Drashti Goswami, who is going to Canada in the September intake for a course in cybersecurity, said that she had secured the admission for January, but had not got the papers in time.
Amid much fanfare, he had started off for Kitchener in Ontario to pursue PG in financial management after completing MA in economics back home.
“I got a bitter reality check after a month of stay in Canada as I struggled to get a decent job.
“With my educational background, I was confident that I would land a good office job and support my stay and education. But an excess supply of students with permits to work for more than 20 hours a week made landing work a mission impossible,” recounts Anand.
Exorbitant lodging and boarding bills were unsustainable as his parents had arranged only for his travel and initial expenses to settle down.
“Nobody discusses the hardships when showing a rosy picture of Canada as an international study destination, says Anand.
Canada govt has doubled GIC amount from Jan 1
Nobody discusses the hardships when showing a rosy picture of Canada as an international study destination. With the huge influx of students annually, everything gets expensive, and if we don’t have an income stream, it gets difficult to foot the bills,” says Anand. “Against average living expenses of 1,000 Canadian dollars per month, a job provides for about 900 dollars. Sans it, parents have to send Rs 60,000- 80,000 per month which can break anybody’s back.” When his desperate efforts failed to land him work, Anand decided to fly back to India after five months and losing more than Rs 12 lakh. “There are many like me — but there are many more who cannot take the step as they have already incurred huge educational loans and have created an aura around them. They do not want to tarnish that image and wallow in depression,” he says, adding that he has already selected a few colleges for the next academic year in India.
The new rules released by the Canadian government on Thursday which include doubling of the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) amount of Canadian dollars 20,635 effective from January 1 from existing 10,000 dollars, may add another hurdle. Revised calculation of study period online and cancellation of 18-month extension post course completion may add to woes of Indian students there, believe experts. Bhavin Thakkara city-based immigration consultant, said that the hike in GIC amount will translate into extra financial burden on parents. “It means that the parents have to shell out a minimum Rs 6.5-7 lakh extra. Of course, the January term’s intake is over, and these students would not be affected by the rise. The next intake for September would show the extent of impact of the new rules,” he said.
“The amount is revised after two decades. In comparison, cost of living is revised annually for most countries, and twice a year for countries like Australia. Those who wish to go would surely shell it out,” said Parthesh Thakkar, an education abroad consultant. The agents pegged the number of students from Gujarat going to Canada between 35,000 to 50,000 annually. Drashti Goswami, who is going to Canada in the September intake for a course in cybersecurity, said that she had secured the admission for January, but had not got the papers in time.