Change Visitor Visa to Study Permit

Change Visitor Visa to Study Permit

Many foreigners visit Canada to enjoy its fascinating nature and beautiful cities. Nevertheless, Canada is well-known for its high-quality and affordable education. That is why some foreign residents decide to change their visa to a study permit. A visitor visa, sometimes called a temporary resident visa, is an official document that allows travelers to stay in Canada for up to six months, while a study permit allows international students to study at Canadian schools.

To change  visa to study permit, foreign residents must receive a Letter of Acceptance from a chosen Designated Learning Institution. Once prospective students have that letter, they can prepare the application package. The first step is to get a document checklist that includes all documents that you need to submit with the application. Moreover, you will get a personalized checklist when you apply online.

If international students are going to change visitor visa to study permit and attend a post-secondary designated learning institution, they must provide a Letter of Acceptance that includes the following information: confirmation of your registration as a student, your study program, number of courses, the intended start and end date of the program, and conditions of the acceptance. If you receive the conditional Letter of Acceptance, you must convince the officer in charge that you fulfill the conditions before a study permit is issued.

If you want to change your visa to a study permit and attend a primary or secondary school, you ought to provide a letter from the school that includes information about the level of study and the date of graduation.

In addition to the requirements mentioned above, international students who are accepted to the schools in Quebec, must submit a copy of the Letter of Acceptance issued by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) or the Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ).

To change visitor visa to student status, foreign residents must also prove they have enough funds to support themself during their study in Canada. Foreigners can provide a bank statement, a letter from a Canadian bank that includes the status of their bank account, a copy of the letter with the information about your scholarship, or a letter from a person who is giving them financial help to study in Canada.

The second step is to complete the application forms to change the visa to study permit. It is better to fill out the forms electronically since it reduces the risks of possible errors. Moreover, you must complete all sections of the forms to avoid refusal of your application. If some questions or sections of the forms do not apply to you, you may write NA or Not Applicable. To change visitor visa to study permit, you need to download and fill out the following forms.

1. Form number one – IMM 5709 also known as the Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student. If you complete this form on a computer, you must validate it by generating a barcode.
2. The Custodian Declaration – Custodian for Minors Studying in Canada is also known as IMM 5646. You need to fill out this form if the minor is less than 17 years old and is going to study in Canada without a parent or legal guardian. Then, the appointed guardian must live in Canada.
3. The Use of a Representative Form is also known as IMM 5476. You should complete this form if you use the services of the authorized representative to change visitor visa to study permit.
4. The Form IMM 5475 stands for the Authority to release personal information to a designated individual. You must complete this form if you allow IRCC (Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Canada) to release information from your case file to someone other than yourself.
5. The Final Form is IMM 5409, that is the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union, but fill it only if it applies to you.

It must be highlighted that you must provide clear and true information on the forms to change visitor visa to study permit since the data you provide may be verified by the immigration officer. Additionally, you do not need to print out your application forms to sign them when you are applying online to change your visitor visa to a study permit. You should just type your name and answer the security question. This is called the electronic signature.

The third step is to pay the processing fees to change the visitor visa to a study permit. When you apply online, you must pay the fees for all services that you require. The processing fees include 150 CAD for a study permit and 85 CAD for biometrics. Moreover, it is not necessary to apply for an extension of temporary resident status since the officer issues all the necessary documentation with the one application.

You should know that the processing fees are not refunded, regardless of the final decision on your application. Thus, to change a visitor visa to a study permit, you must make sure that you are eligible to apply and that you submit all the required information. To pay your fees online in your account, you must have a valid credit card, create an account or sign in with GCKey or Sign-In Partner.

The last step is to submit the application to change the visitor visa to study permit. To apply online, you must scan your documents or create their electronic copies, upload them, and pay the processing fees with a valid credit card. When you apply to change your visitor visa to study permit, you can check your status online.

Once you submit the application, the Case Processing Center reviews your application to determine if it is complete. If your application to change visitor visa to study permit is refused, you can complete and submit the application package one more time. If your application is complete, the officer in charge will send you either a study permit, a letter of refusal, or a notification that your case files are transferred to a local Canada Immigration Center. If your application to change visitor visa to study permit is sent to a local office, they will contact you to request additional information or invite you to an interview. Moreover, it may take up to three months for the local immigration officer to contact and notify you of their decision.

It is obvious that you want to change your visa to a study permit as soon as possible. Hence, you must make sure that you submit all required documents and notify the officer in charge about the changes of your contact information, such as mailing address, phone number, or e-mail address.

There are also several factors that can delay the processing of your application to change visitor visa to study permit. They include the missing signature on application forms, missing documents, incorrect processing fees payment, unclear photocopies of documents, documents not accompanied by a certified English or French translation, information and documents are not verified, a medical condition that requires additional tests or consultations, a criminal or security problem.

When you decide to change your visitor visa to a study permit, you should also know about the Quality Assurance Program that randomly selects applications for a special review. If you are selected for this program, you will be notified in writing that you must pass an interview with the officer in charge. During the interview, the officer will verify your documents and forms.

International students should remember that it is not enough to change visitor visas to study permits. You must remain enrolled at the educational institution and make progress towards completing your study program. Indeed, post-secondary schools report about status and academic achievements of the study permit holders to the officer in charge. If your progress is not satisfactory, the officer in charge can withdraw your study permit and ask you to leave Canada.

 

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