U.S, tells Canadian students to stay home

• Tweet

NEW YORK, June 2 (UPI) -- An Immigration and Naturalization Service decision to bar part-time Canadian students from U.S. colleges and universities could force hundreds of Canadians attending local schools to halt their educational plans, The Buffalo News reported Sunday.

The INS statute, on the books for years but not enforced until now, is being reactivated as part of an emphasis on homeland security.

Not surprisingly, educators on both sides of the border are objecting to the imposition of the travel restriction.

D'Youville College in downtown Buffalo caters heavily to Canadians who comprise about 900 of its 2,400 students, about 150 of whom are part-time.

Ontario colleges and professional programs in law and medicine are already strained by Canada's growing population, the newspaper said, forcing many students to seek higher education across the border. Students travel to take classes in the Buffalo area from as far away as Toronto.

Some part-time students may convert to full-time status to continue their education but at a heavy price. Canadian students pay nearly $2 Canadian for every $1 in American funds.

Niagara University reports that 91 Canadian students are registered for part-time studies this summer. Since they began their classes before the INS May 22 cutoff date, they will be allowed to pursue their studies as planned.

But they'll need to allow extra time to get to class now that they need to park at customs and show a copy of their I-94, an Arrival/Departure Record, each time they cross the border.