Apply for a Study Permit with SDS

Apply for a Study Permit with SDS (Student Direct Stream)

If you plan to apply for a Canadian study permit, you should know more about the Student Direct Stream (SDS) option. This program allows obtaining study permits for those who wish to study in Canada at the post-secondary Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs). However, not all prospective international students can apply through this program. It is worth mentioning, that only legal residents of China, India, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, Senegal, and Vietnam can apply for a study permit with the Student Direct Stream.

Prospective international students from the above-mentioned countries have the opportunity to obtain Canadian study permits faster and more efficiently using this program. Additionally, citizens of these countries have to live in the home countries if they want to apply for a study permit with the Student Direct Stream. Another important fact to consider is that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada can process your application within 20 calendar days if you apply for a study permit with the Student Direct Stream. However, you have to be sure that you meet all the eligibility requirements.

It is worth mentioning that you have to submit your application electronically if you want to be eligible for SDS processing and prefer to Apply for a Study Permit with SDS. If your application is submitted in paper form, it is processed as a regular study permit application, which means that the processing time is longer than if you apply for a study permit with the Student Direct Stream.

You should also remember that all prospective international students are subject to all eligibility requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). You cannot violate any requirement even if you apply for a study permit with SDS (Student Direct Stream).

Now, let`s take a closer look at the eligibility criteria for the program. If you wish to apply for a study permit with SDS ( Student Direct Stream), you must fulfill the following six requirements.

1. You have to submit a copy of a letter of acceptance from the post-secondary Designated Learning Institution. Please visit the official Web Page of the Government of Canada if you want to learn more about the schools that have the right to admit international students.
2. You have to submit the document that confirms your honest medical examination. International students who have visited designated countries or territories for more than six months in the past year before coming to Canada or whose study program requires medical examination results need to include this document. You can check if you need a medical exam or what countries and territories are considered to be designated by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, online.
3. You have to prove that you have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of no less than 10,000 CAD from the bank insured by the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). The CDIC web page provides all the necessary information about the banks that can offer these certificates for international students.

It is worth mentioning, that the Guaranteed Investment Certificate has to meet the following criteria. First, the bank has to provide the GIC certificate, the letter of attestation, the Investment Balance Confirmation, or the Investment Directions Confirmation to the applicant. Second, the funds must be inaccessible for release to the applicant until they arrive in Canada. Third, the bank must validate the applicant’s identity before releasing funds to the study permit holder. Fourth, the applicant has to receive an initial pay-out after identifying themselves. The remaining funds can be disbursed in monthly installments.

1. You have to prove that you have paid tuition fees for the first year of study. You can submit a receipt or a letter from the Designated Learning Institution that confirms payment of tuition fees, the receipt from the bank, or other proof.
2. You have to pass a language test within two years of the date the application was received. An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score has to be 6.0 and higher in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. A TEF (Test d’Evaluation de Français) score has to be equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 7 for each language skill: at least 207 for reading, 310 for writing, 249 for listening, and 310 for speaking.
3. You have to submit your secondary or post-secondary educational transcripts.

It is worth mentioning, that you might need to demonstrate more documents if you want to apply for a study permit with SDS ( Student Direct Stream program), and remember you have to submit your application electronically. Also, you have to pay attention to the fact that you can be requested to submit additional documents in the process of your application for a study permit with the Student Direct Stream. It means that the immigration officer cannot decide on your application and needs more information about you. Consequently, you have to include additional documents as soon as possible to be sure that you will not get a refusal. Remember, you must show solid proof that you are going to leave the country after completion of your studies. The immigration officers have the right to refuse your study permit application if they have doubts about your sincerity.

Another important aspect to consider is the completeness of your applications. When you apply for a study permit with SDS (Student Direct Stream), but your application does not include all the necessary information, it will be refused. However, there is an exception to the biometric fee. If the application does not have it, the immigration officer has to request the fee. Nevertheless, if the application processing fee is not included in the application or is incorrect, the immigration officer has a right to refuse it.

Many international students decide to travel to Canada with their family members since it is a great opportunity to live together in a foreign country. If you are going to travel to Canada with members of your family, you have to know some peculiarities of the Student Direct Stream process. When you apply for a study permit with SDS (Student Direct Stream), the members of your family have the right to concurrent processing of their applications. If you want to learn who can be defined as a family member of the applicant, you can always check this online. It is worth mentioning, that you must submit online temporary residence applications of the accompanying family members as part of a family grouping when you apply for a study permit with the Student Direct Stream. It is vital to remember that work permits, study permits, and temporary resident visa applications are considered temporary residence applications.

One more thing you have to know about the Students Direct Stream program concerns bridging study programs and prerequisite courses. If international students are going to take a prerequisite course or bridging program of study at a Designated Learning Institution before starting their main program, they have a right to apply for a study permit with the Student Direct Stream. However, the applicants have to meet the eligibility criteria of the main study program as well as the Student Direct Stream. Additionally, international students have to submit an e-application from overseas.

Keep in mind, that if you want to apply for a study permit with the Student Direct Stream, you have to provide the letter of acceptance from the Designated Learning Institution with all the required information. The letter of acceptance has to include details of the prerequisite course or bridging study program. Moreover, the main study program of the applicant must lead to a certificate, diploma, or degree. you can also visit the official website of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to find more information about the Student Direct Stream program and the regular study permit application stream.

 

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