Canada Student Visa – A Complete Guide

If you are a student wishing to study in Canada, then you will need a student visa. The process of obtaining a student visa can be lengthy, but fortunately there are a number of ways to speed up the visa approval process. Before applying for a student visa you need to research the school and program that you wish to attend to ensure that they accept international students. You then need to apply for your study permit through the Canadian embassy or consulate in your home country. While the application process can take several months, there are ways to speed up the process. The application for a student visa can be completed at the Canadian Embassy through your education institution. Although the initial visa application can be completed in the country of residence, it is necessary to meet with the Canadian officials in order to apply for a student visa. The documentation to support your Canadian post-secondary education application should include your letter of acceptance, travel documents, bank statements, and proof of funds to ensure that you will not be a burden on the government. Other documents may also be necessary based on individual circumstances. The visa process can also take time, so you should begin the process early to avoid any unnecessary delays.

As an international student you will need to apply for a study permit before you can apply for admission to the school of your choice. Visa application processing times can vary from country to country but it could take up to six months to receive a decision on a visa application. The Study Permit Application Centre (SPAC) in Montreal will process all visas for programs offered in Quebec. The SPAC will provide a case number which will allow you to track the status of your application online. Many applicants choose to apply outside their home country in order to speed the visa process up but this can also make it more difficult for you to gather the necessary documents for the application. However, if you are applying outside of Canada you will need to ensure that you submit all required documents to the SPAC office located in Montreal. Once you have submitted all of the required documents a student visa officer will review your application and will issue you a Notice of Decision within three weeks of receiving the application. Once the visa officer has issued you a notice of decision you can then proceed to apply for admission to your chosen school.

Your student visa will be issued only once you have received official acceptance from your selected school. Once admission has been granted you must submit a copy of the letter of acceptance along with proof of finances to the school in order for your student visa to be issued. The school will then send a completed copy of the letter and the supporting documents to the SPAC office in Montreal. Once everything has been received you will be notified that your student visa has been issued and you may then travel to Canada to attend classes at the school.

Once you have been accepted into a school in Canada you will be asked to complete an online application to the SPAC in order to schedule your visa interview appointment. Once your application has been approved you should receive notification of the date and time of your visa interview by mail or email. You will be required to bring several documents including your language test paper. The interview is to determine whether or not you qualify to study in Canada. You need to pass the test and convince the officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visa. The officer will ask you questions about your background and the reasons for your decision to study in Canada. A visa officer will evaluate the information you give them, including the results of your medical exam, the reason you want to come to Canada and so on. Because you're applying for a study permit, the officer will likely ask you about your studies, how you plan to make money and whether you have a support network of friends or family in Canada. You'll also have to be prepared to answer questions about your current life in your home country and why you want to come to Canada.

In order to be approved by the visa officer, we have to present them with an overwhelming case that you have ties to the country that you are leaving, a good reason (career or educational progress) for returning to your home country, and an overall situation that leads to you have minimal ties to Canada. In order to avoid a visa refusal, ensure you include a copy of your acceptance letter to your college or university as well as a letter from your work place if appropriate, and that you can prove that you have significant links to your country that you are leaving. Again, if you have any questions about your visa application, please don't hesitate to reply here. If we can't help you, we'll do our best to refer you somewhere that can!

Lastly don't forget when applying for student visas, make sure you are eligible to work. The fact is that you are not eligible to work on a student visa. More specifically, you are not considered to be a full-time student because you are taking more than one program. If you were to apply for a work permit, you would be applying for a different immigration program and would not be considered a full-time student. For Canada work permit you can visit our old post.