Application to Study in Canada
Study Permit Overview
Study Permit- is an official Canada Immigration and Refugee document, which allows international student legally and officially study in Canada. International Students, who are going to study in Canada more than 6 month must fill in Application to Study in Canada and obtain this document on the border of Canada by Immigration Officer. As soon as newcomer comes to the border of Canada with valid Canadian Visa, the person should present all required documents and pass small interview with Immigration Officer and get Study permit Document. This document is A4 format document, which contains information about the new student, such as Full Name, Province of future study, authorization work off/on campus, if applicable, date of issue and expiration date of document. Be aware, that study permit does not allow student to travel outside of Canada and come back. For mentioned purposes, student must have valid visitor visa in his passport. Only, Visitor Visa allows person to get onboard and enter Canada legally, as soon as he has temporary status in Canada. Temporary status in Canada can get people, who would like to come to Canada with purpose of Travel, Visit Friends and Relatives, Business meeting, work in Canada, other temporary stay reasons. Study permit can be extended in Canada before 30 days of expiration of document and can be restored in case of no more than 90 days after expiration. It is interesting to know, that when student applies for Application to Study in Canada extension before the expiration date on his study permit, person still has same active status during the application process and review by Canada Immigration. However, when student applies for restoration of status, his previous status are not active and student can not continue study and work part time during the application process. It is should be mentioned, that study permit allows international students work part-time during their full time study and work without limitation during the study breaks in college or university. However, sometime Canada immigration and Immigration officer may issue study permit without right to work in Canada. Sometimes It happens, because study program of international includes co-op work permit and student suppose to apply for separate Co-op Work permit document. Sometimes, the reason of getting study permit without work authorization may be caused of not assurance of Immigration officer of your real purpose of travel to Canada with aim to study in Canada. Always check carefully your study permit, as sometimes it may include wrong information of your name, authorization to work on the bottom of the document, date of issue and expiration date, etc. Be aware, that Immigration Officer is a human and also might make a mistake, however they are very professional, experienced and trained people. In case of mistake, that you may found after you pass the interview and entered Canada, you may come back to the airport or any other port of entry, explain the situation with valid documents to prove your point and ask to get revised study permit document. Immigration Officer at the Border with be happy assist you, if any grounds exist.
Application to Study in Canada
There are 2 types of study permit application to Canada Immigration: Paper and Online. Please see some differences between these types of application:
Paper Application to Study in Canada:
-Takes more time for assessment and review from Canada Immigration
-Unlimited amount of documents to be submitted to Canada Immigration from applicant
-Not always convenient to track your application status and get timely updates from Canada Immigration
-Time consuming for application documents delivery to assigned Canadian Embassy in your country or close to your country
Online Application to Study in Canada:
-Tech Savvy
-Fast application process and Canada Immigration Decision, regarding your application
-Easy to track application status and submit required documents, if any
-Limited space to upload documents to the Online Immigration Portal (GC key Account)
There is a required list of documents, that future student must prepare and submit during the application process. Please see the standard package of documents:
- a) Study permit Application Outside of Canada (Embassy form). This form is PDF fillable document, where future student needs to choose what language client prefers for his application and service to Canada immigration, private personal information, passport information, purpose of travel, future school name and study program, identify financial sponsor and available financial assets for future study in Canada, intended province to live and study in Canada, answer some inadmissibility questions in the end of application, etc.
- b) Photo for future Canadian Visa to the applicant passport. It may be in different JPG,PNG or PDF format and must meet the official photo requirements from Canada Immigration.
- c) Letter of Acceptance. Letter of acceptance must include future student full name, program, school information and Designated Learning Institution Number, Student ID, etc. It is highly recommend to add tuition fees and deposit receipt and co-op letter, if applicable.
- d) Family Information Application (Embassy Form). This form is dedicated to get information of all family members of future student to Canada, who accompany and non-accompany the candidate to their potential travel to Canada.
- e) Financial Documents. Financial Support documents of future student to Canada may include: Sponsor letter from student’s sponsor , Source of income of sponsor: Employment documents and Business registration documents, Bank letters with information about amount on bank account, date of account was opened. As for the amount of money on bank account, Canada Immigration officially requires to have 1 year of tuition fees and 1 year of living expense for the future study in Canada . Some additional documents may make application stronger, if applicant and/or his sponsor has additional income, property, vehicles, etc.
- f) Temporary Resident Visa Application Outside of Canada (Embassy form). This document will be used for your future Canadian Visa with purpose of study in Canada. This embassy form includes information about your travel history, some personal information and question about inadmissibility.
- g) Valid Passport. Passport should be valid for at least 1 year and have 2 blank pages. Also, any additional visas to other countries for last 5 years would be an advantage and additional documents to this section.
Application Fee for Study in Canada
Study permit application is $150 CAD, however first time temporary resident applicants to Canada Immigration must pass fingerprints (biometrics) and it will increase embassy fees for another $85 CAD. Total Embassy fee fir 1st time study permit application to Canada will be $235 CAD.
Processing Time for Application to Study in Canada
Study permit application processing time depends on country, volume of application from your country and region in local Canadian Embassy, completeness of application. You can always check processing time on official Canada Immigration Website by selecting your country and proper type of application.
Study permit document basically valid until the same date as your Canadian Visa in your passport. Also, be aware that in order to apply for study permit and visa you must have valid passport for at least 1 year and have 2 blank pages for the future visa. International students should always check the validity of their immigration status documents and update or extend them on time. During the application process to Canada Immigration, there are some steps of processing your application. As soon as applicant submits the application, Canada Immigration send receipt and confirmation of submission. After that, in 1-2 days potential international student will get invitation for biometrics. Future student needs to pass fingerprints in assigned biometric center, assigned to your country and region. Canadian embassy allows 30 days for that procedure. After that your account will be updated and you get confirmation of biometrics, which is valid for next 10 years. Next step will be screening your application for completeness and eligibility and making next decision about medical exam. In order to pass medical exam, you will have 30 days and must attend special assigned doctor in your region and special medical center, authorized by Canada Immigration.
Decision on Application to Study in Canada and Next Steps
As soon as decision will be made on your application, you have to follow next steps. In case of rejection and refusal, you have to check the reasons of unsuccessful application and edit, change and review the documents, information and grounds on your future application and try to apply again. Be aware, that there is no any sense to apply again with same package of documents, that you submitted first time. Try to add more updated documents, provide proof of ties to home country, maybe change the program or school and etc.
Speaking about positive decision of your application, Canada Immigration will send a request of your passport in order to put the Canadian Visa in your passport. You will get the request letter from Canadian Embassy, which requires to send your passport in proper way and assigned mail address. As soon as you get your passport back with Visa, you have to start prepare to travel to Canada for your future study in Canada.
Interview on the Border of Canada after Application to Study in Canada
When you arrive to the airport and take out from the plane, you have to go to the arrival zone and choose proper line for International travellers. There are some assigned people in the airport, who can guide you and advise what to do next. As soon as you get your turn, you have to go to the available immigration officer, stand in front of him, introduce yourself, show your passport, flight ticket, letter of acceptance and answer the questions , that immigration officer may ask. Be confident and accurate about information, that you provide to immigration officer, which should be equivalent to the documents you have in your hands. After 1-3 minutes of conversation, in case if immigration officer does not have any questions, he will issue study permit document to you, which should be valid for the same duration of time as your study program. Always check the correctness of your name, date of issues and valid date in your document, right of authorization to work part-time off campus.
First Steps in Canada for International Students after Application to Study in Canada Approval
In order to be successful international student in Canada and afford the quality of life and living expenses, it is highly recommended to get Social Insurance Number from Government official services. Social Insurance Number- is the specific number, which allows you to get employment in Canada and helps to pay taxes in Canada and be legal prospective employee. After that, it is recommended to create a good looking stunning resume in order to find good stable temporary part-time employment. Also, be aware that annual timely and properly submission of taxes may result in some refund from tuition fees to the student. Always check the dates of study permit and visa and extend your immigration documents in timely manner at least before 30 days of expiration.
It is interesting to know, that in case you want to come to Canada on a short term study program, which is less than 6 month, you do not need to have study permit. In case, if you would like to come and study short study program, for example, language program, you have to apply for a regular Visa and put purpose of study: short-term studies in Canada. As soon as your application will be approved, you will get Study Visa in your passport with specific Code: SX-1. However, in case if you would like to prolong your study in Canada and will be enrolled to the program more than 6 month, you have to change your status inside Canada and get study permit or make overseas application and apply for study permit and follow the process , that was mentioned above.
In case, if you will need any Legal Immigration Services inside Canada and assistance with Application to Study in Canada, please feel free to contact one of our representative, who will be happy to assist you. If you are located in your country and need our help, our company has a price match as per each country all over the world and our fees for the service will be same as in your native country. Welcome to Canada and hope you have a positive decision on your study permit and successful international experience in Canada.
