An internal government review has concluded that Canada’s rules for foreign students are so lax as to be easily abused, according to The Vancouver Sun, which obtained a copy of the report.

The student-visa system, which the review notes has gotten increasingly flexible since 2002, does not require students to show up for class. The policy also makes it fairly easy for students to extend their length of study and allows them to work for up to two years in Canada after they graduate.

“While these changes have made the program more attractive to genuine students, it also has opened up the opportunity for nongenuine students to use the study permit as a means to secure work in Canada,” the report concludes. “It has also opened up an avenue for individuals who are seeking general entry into Canada for an extended period of time to do so under the guise of being a student.”

According to the review, 80 percent of students who apply for a visa to study in Canada are approved. The number of foreign students in Canada rose to 157,000 in 2006, up from 71,000 in 1997.

The review was prompted by an earlier audit, which found widespread student-visa fraud in British Columbia. —Beth McMurtrie