A Canadian college, George Brown, has withheld the school fees paid by a Nigerian applicant, Miss Precious Ademokun, who got denied a study visa by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Ademokun told CBC News said she had received her admission into a programme at George Brown College in April and paid CAD8,867 for the first semester fees out of the total of CAD16,872 for both semesters, before applying for a student visa on July 4, adding, “I was told the visa application process could take six to eight weeks.”
According to the 19-year-old lady, she waited for months in Nigeria for her study permit application to be processed, only to be told she had been denied a student visa.
When she communicated the sad development to the Toronto college she applied to and requested a refund on account of the denial, the college declined her request.
“I’m very disappointed and sad,” Ademokun told CBC Toronto.
She learnt of the decision to deny her study permit on October 6.
The Canadian college told Ademokun it was too late for her to get a refund of any of the fees she paid to the school.
Ademokun appealed the decision, but the school denied her request for withdrawal and refund in a letter sent to her on December 15.
In the letter, George Brown College denied her appeal to withdraw her first tuition deposit of $8,962 because she didn’t meet up with the deadline date.
Observing the institution’s website to validate their claim, it wrote, “In George Brown College, international students who are refused a study permit are eligible for a refund or deferral, if it is requested within their deadline date.”
When CBC Toronto contacted the school’s registrar, Janene Christiansen, she said in a statement that it values its international students and understands “it is always a huge disappointment when study permits are denied.”
Christiansen added, “The school is ‘following up directly’ with Ademokun to ‘find a resolution.’”
“Now that new information is coming to light, we are following up directly with the individual to gather more details and find a resolution.”
Christiansen also said George Brown College’s international withdrawal and refund policy is aligned with other colleges in Ontario and complies with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities directives, as well as IRCC regulations.
However, she says, the school is reviewing its internal processes and policies to “ensure an improved, clear and transparent process for all prospective students.
