Canada launches pilot project to streamline review process for rejected study permits
Those who have had their Canadian study permit rejected may soon benefit from a new pilot project.
Canada’s Federal Court has announced the Study Permit Pilot Project, designed to streamline the process of requesting judicial review of rejected study permit applications. It launches on October 1.
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Under the Pilot, people who apply for leave and judicial review of their study permit refusals may be able to complete the entire procedure in under five months, rather than the current processing time of 14-18 months. An application for leave and judicial review is a process where an individual seeks permission from the Federal Court of Canada to challenge an immigration decision.
Under normal procedures, a judge first decides whether to grant leave (permission) to an applicant to proceed with judicial review. If this leave is granted, then the case for judicial review is heard and assessed on its merits. Under the new Study Permit Pilot Project, requests for leave and judicial review will be considered at the same time.
There is no additional fee for opting into the project, although filing for leave and judicial review costs $50.
Who is eligible?
Students may be eligible for the Study Permit Pilot Project if they applied for a study permit, and received a letter of refusal from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Other criteria include:
Both the prospective student (the Applicant) and IRCC opting in to the pilot project;
Both parties agreeing on the underlying facts, as evidenced by the application materials submitted to IRCC by the Applicant, including the full reasons for the IRCC decision;
The facts/issues of the case—either the initial study permit application, the refusal from IRCC, or both—being straightforward (e.g. no factual or legal issues of inadmissibility or national security and no request for a certified question);
The applicant not needing to request an extension of time to file the Application for Leave;
The parties not using affidavit evidence (affidavits are used to introduce new evidence, which is not permitted under this new pilot project)
Study permit applicants applying from within Canada, have 15 days from the day they received their study permit application refusal to apply under this new initiative. Applicants applying from outside Canada, have 60 days from the day they receive their study permit application refusal to apply.
How to apply
All documents have to be filed online using the court’s electronic filing system. To opt in, applicants have to file an application for Leave and Judicial Review using Form IR-1,and mention the Pilot Project in three specific places of the application. More details can be found here.
After filing documents, a judge will decide on the application and notify the applicant.
Why are the Federal Court and IRCC taking these measures?
In their press release, the Canadian Federal Court cited an increase in leave and judicial review requests as a key reason behind the start of their joint pilot with IRCC.
“The Federal Court is on track to receive 24,000 immigration filings by the end of [the] December. That (figure) is approximately four times the yearly average the Court experienced in the five years immediately preceding the COVID-19 pandemic.”
There has been a wave of new policies around Canada’s admittance of new international students and graduates in 2024 as the country’s immigration department seeks to respond to affordability and housing stock pressures by reducing the number of temporary residents (those on a study or work permit or visitor visa) already in Canada.
In January, IRCC announced the first-ever cap on international students, limiting the total number of newly issued study permits to 485,000 in 2024. Initially a temporary policy, this change applied to most undergraduate and college students, with master’s and PhD students exempted from these restrictions. The federal government proceeded to assign international student allocations to each provincial and territorial government, based on this new cap.
In a recent update to these policies, Immigration Minister Marc Miller held a press conference on September 18th, restating his commitment to the international student cap and announcing several additional measures including:
Reducing the targets of newly issued study permits by 10% from 2024—to 437,000 new study permits in 2025;
Including master’s and PhD students in the revised targets;
Adding a language eligibility criterion to the issuance of Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) to international graduates, based on their level of study;
Limiting eligibility of PGWPs for college students to those who are studying in a program linked to an area of high-labour demand; and
Limiting the eligibility of Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWPs) for spouses of master’s students based on the length of the education program.
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Canada launches pilot project to streamline review process for rejected study permits
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Ugandan Citizen Abducted, Held in Secret Detention for Three Months, Sparks Outrage and Calls for Justice
A disturbing new case of unlawful detention has surfaced, highlighting the ongoing human rights crisis in Uganda. A Ugandan citizen was reportedly abducted and held in a secret facility, known as a “safe house,” for three months, only to be released without charge or explanation. This incident, reported by NTV Uganda, has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for accountability regarding human rights abuses in the country.
While the details surrounding the abduction remain unclear, reports indicate that the individual was taken without due process and held incommunicado—an action that has long been condemned by human rights organizations. The victim’s release, with no charges filed and no clear justification, has angered activists and citizens, who view this as yet another case of egregious abuse of power by the state.
“This is a recurring pattern,” said one human rights activist. “Abductions, secret detentions, and unexplained releases have become all too common in Uganda. These acts violate fundamental human rights and erode public trust in the justice system.”
The use of “safe houses,” unregistered detention facilities reportedly operated by security forces, has been a focal point in numerous allegations of torture and illegal imprisonment. Despite repeated calls from both local and international organizations for their closure and accountability for those involved, little action has been taken to address these violations.
This case underscores the urgent need for reform within Uganda’s security apparatus and greater accountability for human rights abuses. Observers hope that drawing attention to these injustices will spur concrete action to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the protection of basic human rights.
As frustration mounts, calls for both domestic and international pressure to hold the government accountable for such crimes grow louder. “One day, there must be accountability for all these crimes against our people,” stated one social media user, reflecting the sentiments of many Ugandans.
National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi has accused Ugandan security forces of using excessive force to disrupt a planned NUP gathering. The allegations were detailed in a statement shared on Twitter, following an event held to honor children of NUP supporters who were killed, disappeared, or detained for their political beliefs.
According to Kyagulanyi, security personnel, under the command of an officer identified as Asiimwe, carried out a preemptive operation early in the morning upon learning of the NUP’s plans. The forces allegedly stormed the premises, arrested workers, and deployed tear gas to disperse those present.
“The criminals under the command of one Asiimwe deployed early morning, arrested our workers, and threw tear gas into our premises. They’ve cordoned off the premises and blocked all people from accessing the place,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
Among those reportedly arrested were Saava Peter, Mudenya Samson, and Turyasingura Samson. Kyagulanyi claimed the detained workers were subjected to beatings and interrogated about their political affiliations, with security operatives labeling them as terrorists.
“These JATT operatives asked the workers who they support politically, branding them terrorists and criminals—their only crime being that they work with us. You can imagine the indignity!” Kyagulanyi lamented.
This incident adds to the growing tension in Uganda’s political climate, where opposition parties frequently accuse the government of stifling dissent. Despite the challenges, Kyagulanyi ended his statement with a message of defiance and optimism, proclaiming, “UGANDA WILL BE FREE.”
NUP Gathering Disrupted: Kyagulanyi Alleges Security Force Harassment and Arrests
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Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum
Sudan has demanded an official apology from Uganda over “offensive and dangerous” comments made by the chief of Uganda army staff, who threated to invade Khartoum, the Sudan Tribune has reported.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and CDF of the Ugandan army, posted two comments on the X platform on Tuesday in which he threatened “to capture Khartoum” with the support of the US President elect Donald Trump after he takes office. The posts were deleted later.
“The government of Sudan demands and official apology from the Ugandan government for the offensive and dangerous comments of the army commander,” Sudan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Sudan Tribune said it has seen.
Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum