Canadian border officials are apparently careless with the official blanks for study permits, temporary residence permits, and work permits, according to the results of a new security audit. More than 44,000 of the blanks were missing at one border crossing when the audit was conducted, according to the Canadian Press.

Most of the missing were subsequently accounted for, but 2,000 remain at large. The blanks are supposed to be kept under lock and key. The news agency, which received a copy of the audit under an open-records law, says each colored form has a unique serial number, Canada’s logo, and the Canadian coat of arms, along with embedded security markings similar to those on a passport.

The audit found lax security for the paper documents at all eight border locations examined, from Quebec to British Columbia, including major airports and land crossings. The blanks are considered valuable on the black market and can be used not only to gain entry but also to qualify for a number of social services.

A spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency said the situation was under investigation and a new monitoring system would be installed in October to ensure the blanks are handled properly and the staff follows the rules.

Last year the agency admitted it had lost track of many foreign students and lacked the resources to find bogus students. —Karen Birchard