STUDENT VISA CANADA
Canada is an ideal study destination for students from all over the world, as it offers a wide range of educational opportunities in many different fields. In addition to having some of the best universities in the world, Canada also has a great selection of colleges and vocational schools.
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Studying abroad can be an incredible experience that will help you grow both personally and professionally. Here are just some of the many benefits that studying in Canada can offer:
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You’ll get a high-quality education at a cheaper price than in other developed countries, such as the U.S., the U.K., or Australia.
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Canadian universities offer high-quality programs at much lower tuition costs than most other countries—and some programs are even free!
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You’ll gain valuable life skills by living with other international students and practicing your English speaking skills outside of class.
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You’ll have access to a diverse community with many different cultures and backgrounds.
Want
to study
in Canada?
Study permits are available to foreign nationals who wish to study in Canada at an institution that is designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If you wish to study in Canada, you must first apply for a study permit.
Student Direct Stream
is being launched to help facilitate the entry of international students into Canada
Student Direct Stream in Canada is being introduced in Canada to help facilitate the entry of international students into the country. This will speed up application processing and shorten the time it takes to get study permits.
To be eligible for the Student Direct Stream, you must be a legal resident living in one of the following countries:
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Antigua and Barbuda
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Brazil
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China
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Colombia
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Costa Rica
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India
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Morocco
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​Pakistan
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Peru
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Philippines
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Senegal
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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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Trinidad and Tobago
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Vietnam
Even if you are a citizen of one of the countries above and are not currently a legal resident in said country, you cannot apply through the SDS. You can still, however, apply for a Study Permit through the regular process.
Change your DLI
(Change College or University)
You might want to change your college or university in Canada for a number of reasons. Here's how to do it. If you are an international student who wants to switch colleges, universities or programs, you may have to complete the transfer process.
If you are a post-secondary student, your study permit must be issued by a designated learning institution. This means that if you move from one school to another within Canada or change your program while at the same school, you must tell IRCC through an amendment request.
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Can you change your DLI while you are outside of Canada? The answer is yes.
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If you change schools and don't tell the IRCC, your old school will report you as not registered to study. If this happens: You're breaking the conditions of your study permit; The new school can't issue your transcript and may not have any record of you attending; You may be asked to leave Canada. Your new school won't take responsibility for applying for your permit, so this will impact your ability to come back to Canada for future studies or work permits.
Contact us if you have any questions regarding changing your school
Study and Work
You can be permitted to work on or off campus...
You can be permitted to work on or off campus depending on the Study Permit without requesting a Work Permit. There are particular requirements that must be satisfied in order to do so. The eligibility conditions for holders of Study Permits to hold jobs while they are enrolled in classes will be outlined in this article.
Work on-Campus
Who is eligible?
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If you meet the following three requirements, you can work on campus without filing for a work permit:
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You still have a valid study permit.
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You are a full-time student at a designated learning institution.
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You possess a SIN (Social Insurance Number).
As soon as your Study Permit expires or you are no longer regarded as a full-time student, you must stop working.
Where can you work?
Except if you are a research or teaching assistant, you are only permitted to work at your school's campuses in the city in which you are enrolled. If so, you can work at a hospital, research centre, or library that is affiliated with your school, which is located away from your city's campuses. The project has to be related to research funding.
Who is an "on-campus" employer? Here are some examples:
If: You own a business that is actually situated on campus, the school, a faculty member, or a student organization (for example you own a coffee shop that is located on campus)
a private company or private contractor that offers the school on-campus services.
Work off-Campus
Who is eligible?
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If you meet all of the following requirements, you are permitted to work off-campus without a work permit:
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You still have a valid study permit.
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You are a full-time student at a designated learning institution.
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Your academic programme must last at least six months and has started
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must receive a certificate, diploma, or degree from your programme of study.
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You possess your SIN (Social Insurance Number).
There are more requirements and options even if you are no longer studying full-time.
How many hours can you work?
Off-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week, excluding breaks (summer holidays for example). the opportunity to work full-time.
Contact us if you have any questions regarding working while studying.
Co-op for Student
earn college credits and gain real-world experience
As a co-op student, you'll earn college credits and gain real-world experience through paid internships, practicums and part-time employment with businesses in your career field.
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Find out if you are eligible for the Work Permit?
The Work Permit can be applied for before or during your study program. If you need to complete your internship or co-op work experience during the study program, you will need to apply for a Co-op Intern Work Permit.
There are specific regulations that you must meet before applying:
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You must have a current study permit.
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Your Designated Learning Institution has provided you with a letter attesting that the internship or co-op is necessary for validating your diploma, degree, or certificate (DLI),
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The internship or co-op does not last longer than half the time allotted for the study course.
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You are not enrolled in a programme of study, studying French or English, or taking preparatory lessons.
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To apply for a Co-op or Intern Work Permit, you have two alternatives:
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Applying at the same time as your initial Study Permit application
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Applying following the start of your studies.
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Contact us if you have any questions regarding the co-op work permit.
Extend your study permit
If you want to keep studying
A student visa extension in Canada requires a completely new application to do so. Ideally, the application to extend the study permit must be applied for renewed at least 30 days before the current permit expires on your study permit.
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Similarly, in case of a change of programs or school/institution, a complete application to change the conditions of your study permit has to be applied.
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To extend your study permit, students have to:
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Ensure that their passport doesn’t expire at the same time. The study permit cannot be extended beyond passport’s expiry date.
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Stay in Canada while the application to extend the study permit is under process until the decision is made.
In case of finishing studies earlier than expected
Your study permit will expire on whichever date comes first:
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the date marked on the permit or
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90 days after the day you complete your studies
How to apply
Preferably online applications to extend the study permit are better. Yet, you may be able to apply on paper if either
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Out of a disability that makes it impossible to apply online, or
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there’s a problem with the online application
What to do if your permit expired
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In order to continue to stay and study after the study permit has expired, students need to apply,
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for a new study permit
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to restore your status as a temporary resident
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Restore Status as a student
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Students need to apply to restore their status as a student within 90 days of losing it. However, the application for the restoration of status is subject to fulfilment of all the conditions and requirements under which entry and stay in Canada are per permissible
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Students are allowed to stay in Canada after the application is made, but are not allowed to study until a positive response to the application is received.
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It should be well noted that there is no guarantee that the application to restore status will be accepted. Thus, full details of all the facts and circumstances should be provided to avoid any loss of status.
Student Visa Refusal
Reasons and Actions needed
Refusal of a study permit – Reasons & Solutions
The biggest reason behind the Study Permits refusal is often when individuals apply on their own, as the application could be missing many of the significant ingredients to convince the visa officer to approve the visa.
Why a Student Visa to Canada is refused
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Canada follows quite a rigorous screening process for a student permit, especially for citizens from visa-required countries. Thus, it is so essential for them to ensure that a strong application is prepared in order to convince the visa officer that the candidate is a genuine applicant for a Student Visa. ​
Besides the Student Visa application process being time-taking, it also requires detailed personal and family information requiring many documents to be provided to strengthen and support the application. Therefore, it is utterly crucial to prepare a proper application as the immigration officers base their decision on the information received via an application.
​Many applicants underestimate this significance and invite a high rate of refusal by applying on their own. Typically, a re-submission of an application after one or more rejections should essentially address all the previous refusal reasons in greater detail; otherwise, an officer may have no point in reconsidering the application.
Reasons for Refusal:
​Study Plan: A well-charted and effective study plan are essential to make a strong positive impact on the visa officer. It will not be convincing for the precise purpose of coming to Canada, but it will also suggest a logical study progression. The choice of program in Canada is, thus, a sensitive issue to explain the intentions and, thereby the most common reason for refusal.
​Proof of Finances: Funding for study in Canada is another big reason for refusal. Hence, the application must demonstrate adequate financial support to pay for their tuition and living expenses. ​
Lack of Travel History: Poor travel history can change the direction of the case if not dealt with carelessly and can lead to refusal. Our experts can make this reason a no-barrier by making legal and logical arguments and referencing a Federal Court Case in the application.
​Strong Family Ties to Canada: interestingly, having family members in Canada can lead to refusal. Again, our expert role can turn the case in favour of the applicant with legal arguments and reference a Federal Court Case in the application.
Other possible reasons for refusal can be stated below.
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Lack of evidentiary documents
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Illegal Status in Country of Residence
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Lack of Employment Prospects in Home Country: if a student is older
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Current Employment Situation: if a student is older
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Personal Assets
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Documents that do not appear authentic
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History of overstaying status on a previous visit to Canada
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Criminality (having previously been charged with a crime
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Misrepresentation (having misrepresented information to Canada immigration previously and received a ban)
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Previous Deportation: for overstaying visit illegally
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Medical Inadmissibility: have a contagious disease that is a threat to Canadians
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Human Rights Violations: previously served in the military for a country deemed to have participated in war crimes. Additional documents must be provided to overcome this inadmissibility.
​ What after being refused the student visa?
The Study Permit Refusal
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There is no prescribed process or right to appeal within IRCC, which leaves no option but to re-apply or do a judicial review.
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A judicial review can only be filed when the refusal seems to be a direct outcome of visa officers’ wrong judgment despite having presented all the required details and documents. To be eligible for the judicial review, one must prove that IRCC did not perform their job correctly. Remember, the Judicial Review will not be successful if the original application has a false representation or documentation.
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Re-applying again on one’s own?
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One of the unfortunate mistakes is to re-apply on one’s own again with similar information without any useful addition to details that can convince the Immigration officer. Analysis of all the previous refusal reasons and adding additional documents and arguments are always better to address that can change the case scenario.
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If you have faced a Study Permit refusal and wish to apply for one, please contact our firm for Professional Help. It has helped many clients secure a visa after a refusal, oftentimes even after multiple refusals. This is our area of knowhow.