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- Studying in Canada

Posted on 2009-11-19

Studying in Canada

Overview
This application guide is designed for persons who wish to apply for a study permit from outside Canada, to study in Canada. It provides all of the necessary information, instructions and application forms for you to complete and submit.

If you want to study in Canada you must meet the necessary requirements and you may require a temporary resident visa. A temporary resident visa is an official document issued by a visa office abroad that is placed in your passport to show that you have met the requirements for admission to Canada as a temporary resident. If you require a temporary resident visa it is not necessary to make a separate application or pay a separate fee; an officer will issue it at the same time as the documentation necessary for your entry to Canada as a student.

You must have a letter confirming that you have been accepted by an educational institution before you apply for a study permit. An educational institution includes a university, college or other educational institution. The institution will decide if you meet its academic and language requirements. To obtain such acceptance, you must deal directly with the educational institution in which you are interested.

Before you apply
• Read all the instructions carefully before you begin to complete the application forms.
• Gather all of the necessary documents.
• Photocopy the blank forms and use one as a working copy. Keep the working copy for your records.
• Fill in the forms carefully and completely. Use a typewriter or print clearly, in black ink.
• Add appropriate characters for languages that do not use the Latin alphabet. (for example, Chinese, Arabic, Cyrillic, Japanese, Hebrew, etc.)
• Sign and date your application forms.
• Verify acceptable methods of payment with the office where you submit your application.

What is a study permit?
This is the official document issued by an officer that allows someone who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada to study in Canada.

Do I require a study permit?
If you are not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a family member of a foreign representative accredited to Canada or a member of the armed forces of a country that is a designated state for the purpose of the Visiting Forces Act, you must obtain a study permit to study in Canada. The Protocol Division of Foreign Affairs issues an acceptance to everyone who has diplomatic, consular, or official status in Canada and their family members. If you have this approval, you do not need a study permit to take courses in Canada.

When should I apply?
The time required to process an application to study in Canada may vary at different visa offices. You should apply as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance from the educational institution.

What are the requirements I must meet?
You must show the officer that you meet the requirements of the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations and that you will be in Canada for a temporary stay. You must also:
• satisfy an officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your studies;
• have been accepted by an educational institution;
• prove that you have enough money during your stay in Canada to pay for:
o tuition fees;
o living expenses for yourself and accompanying family members; and
o return transportation for yourself and accompanying family members;
• be law abiding and have no record of criminal activity (you may be asked to provide a Police Clearance Certificate);
• not be a risk to the security of Canada;
• produce any additional documents requested by the officer to establish your admissibility;
• Complete a medical examination, if required.

What documents do I need to apply for a study permit?
Complete the application form, and include the documents listed below.

1. Proof of acceptance
• for attendance at a university, college or technical institution, a letter from the educational institution to show:
o the name of the institution;
o confirmation of your acceptance and/or registration as a student;
o the course of study;
o the duration of the academic program; and
o the latest date you may register.
• for attendance at a primary or secondary school, a letter from the school board having jurisdiction for the school you are attending (or for private schools, a letter from the school itself), indicating:
o the name of the school;
o the level of study; and
o the duration of the course.

2. Proof of identity
• a valid passport or travel document that guarantees re-entry to the country that issued it (citizens and permanent residents of the United States, St. Pierre and Miquelon, and Greenland do not require a passport but do require proof of status and citizenship such as a national identity card or an alien registration card); and
• six photos of you and your accompanying family members

3. Proof of financial support
• Evidence that you can support yourself and accompanying family members while you study in Canada. Such evidence may include:
o proof of a Canadian bank account in your name if money has been transferred to Canada;
o your bank statements for the past four months;
o a bank draft in convertible currency;
o proof of payment of tuition and residence fees;
o for those with a scholarship or those with a Canadian funded educational program: proof of funding paid from within Canada.
• if foreign exchange control measures exist in your country, you must provide proof that you will be permitted by the exchange control authorities of your country to export funds for all of your expenses.

Are there any conditions on my study permit?
An officer may impose, vary, or cancel conditions on your study permit. These may include one or more of the following:
• the type of studies or course you may take
• the educational institution you may attend
• the location of your studies
• the time and period of your studies
• the time and place at which you shall report for medical examination or observation
• the time and place at which you shall report for the presentation of evidence in compliance with applicable conditions
• the prohibition of engaging in employment
• the duration of your stay in Canada

May my spouse or common law partner and dependent children accompany me to Canada?
Yes. They may either accompany you to Canada or they may join you at a later date.
Family members are the immediate members of your family. Your spouse or common-law partner and your dependent children are your family members. A common-law partner is a person of the opposite or same sex who is currently cohabiting and has cohabited in a conjugal relationship with you for a period of at least one year.

A child must meet the requirements of type A, B or C below to be considered a dependent child:

Type A
He or she is under the age of 22 and single, that is, not married and not in a common-law relationship.

Type B
He or she married or entered into a common-law relationship before the age of 22 and, since becoming a spouse or a common-law partner, has
• been continuously enrolled and in attendance as a full-time student in a post-secondary institution accredited by the relevant government authority; and
• depended substantially on the financial support of a parent.
or
He or she is 22 years of age or older and, since before the age of 22, has
• been continuously enrolled and in attendance as a full-time student in a post-secondary institution accredited by the relevant government authority; and
• depended substantially on the financial support of a parent.

Type C
He or she is 22 years of age or older, has depended substantially on the financial support of a parent since before the age of 22 and is unable to provide for him/herself due to a medical condition.
Your spouse or common-law partner and children must meet all the requirements for temporary residents in Canada. They must satisfy an officer that they are genuine temporary residents who will be in Canada for a temporary stay. They may be required to provide evidence that they are law abiding and have no criminal record. If your family member applies for a temporary resident visa, they must also meet all the conditions to obtain a visa.

Include them on your application by providing their names and other information in the appropriate space on the application form.

If your family members wish to follow you to Canada at a later date, they must make a separate application for admission.

May my children attend school?
Your accompanying children may be able to study in Canada. They must apply for a study permit at the same time as your application. If they intend to join you later they must obtain a study permit before coming to Canada to join you.

Will I or my family members need a medical examination?
In some cases you will require a medical examination. If a medical examination is required, you will be informed by an officer who will provide instructions on how to proceed. It may add over three months to the processing of your application.

May I leave, then re-enter Canada?
In order to return to Canada, you must be in possession of a valid passport or travel document. You also need to hold a valid study permit if you are returning to study in Canada.
If you are a citizen of a country that requires a temporary resident visa to travel to Canada, you will also need to be in possession of a valid entry visa to return, unless:
• you are returning to Canada following a visit only to the United States or St-Pierre and Miquelon; and
• you return before the expiry of the period initially authorized for your entry or any extension to it, either as a visitor, student or worker.

Possession of these documents does not guarantee re-entry. All persons must establish that they meet all of the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations before being authorized to enter or re-enter Canada.

May I work during my stay in Canada?
Generally, foreign students are not allowed to work while studying in Canada.
However, there are some exceptions for full-time students at publicly funded or degree granting institutions who may apply for work permits. A full-time student is a person, whose program of study is normally at least 15 hours of instruction per week, leading to a diploma or certificate, unless otherwise defined by an educational institution. A work permit is issued if it is established that:
• the intended employment is an essential and integral part of your course of study (this does not apply to medical interns or medical residents); or
• the intended employment is related to an approved research or training program; or
• you hold a study permit and have become temporarily destitute through circumstances beyond your control or beyond the control of any person whom you are dependent on for financial support to complete your term of study. You must show proof that you are not able to obtain the money needed for daily expenses and that it is a temporary situation.
• you have successfully graduated from a program at a Canadian university, community, college, CÉGEP, or publicly funded trade/technical school (or from a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees) and wish to work for a maximum of one or two years in employment related to your course of study. The maximum length will depend on the length and location of your studies, and the location of your employer. You must submit your application for a work permit within 90 days of the issuance of your final marks. Your study permit must be valid upon submission of your application for a work permit. For further details refer to the Foreign Workers Manual
• Spouses and common-law partners of full-time students at publicly funded or degree/diploma granting institutions can apply for an open work permit. For further details refer to the guide Applying to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Worker

Do students need a work permit to work on campus?
A full-time student attending a degree-granting post-secondary institution does not need a work permit when the employment offered is on the campus of the college or university where the student is registered full-time, for as long as the study permit is valid. The employer may be a private contractor operating on the campus.

Are there medical restrictions on the work I seek?
Yes, there are some restrictions on the jobs you can take based on the following medical factors:
• if you have passed an immigration medical examination, you may work in any type of job;
• if you have passed an immigration medical examination with some restriction, you may work but you may not take a job involving child care, primary or secondary teaching or health services;
• if you come from a country that Health Canada says has a high rate of serious communicable diseases, you may not work in certain agricultural jobs, childcare, primary or secondary teaching and health services fields, unless you have passed an immigration medical examination.

What happens next?
Your application will be reviewed to ensure it has been completed correctly and contains all of the required documents for processing.

After reviewing your application, an officer will decide if an interview is necessary. If so, the officer will inform you of the time and place.

If your application is approved, you will receive a letter of introduction confirming the approval. This letter is not your study permit. When you arrive in Canada, you must show this letter to a Canadian officer at the port of entry. The officer will determine whether you may enter Canada and how long you may stay. You will be issued a study permit at this time. You must leave Canada on or before the date on your study permit, set by the officer or have your status extended by an officer in Canada.

Source:www.cic.gc.ca

 

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