Ottawa int'l students struggle with Venezuela currency controls

Algonquin College students from Venezuela are struggling to stay in schoolafter their government restricted access to their bank accounts.

Venezuelaisin the midst of an economic recession andthe government has imposed strict currency controls on nationals living abroad.

Jefferson Romantold CBC News hehas not been able to get any money from Venezuela for 10 months. Hecame to Ottawa from Caracas, Venezuela to studycomputer systemsat Algonquin College.

"You need to apply, to submit an application to the government where you have to show them why you want the money, how much, the amount of money, what you're going to do the money. Based on that, they would allow you to use a certain amount of money," he said.

"I feel like I'm begging for that money. I feel like I don't belong to any country, because not even my country can help me."

Without funds, he hasasked Algonquin College fora break on his tuition.Internationalstudents pay nearly $9,000 more annually to study.

A spokesperson for Algonquin College said officials cannot comment specifically on the students' situation, but said there areemergency bursaries and counselling available.

Romansaid he and other students arebrainstorming ways tofundraise.

The Venezuelan embassy in Ottawa didn't return a request from CBC Newsfor comment.