Want to know: How to Become an International Student in Canada? Our Vancouver international student immigration lawyers can help your dream to study here come true. Contact us today.
Over the years Canada has always been the top hot spot for foreign nationals to pursue higher education. According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as of December 2019, there were a total of over 640,000 international students across Canada. The Canadian immigration law and regulation favor these international students as well as prospective ones, from the application criteria to rights granted by a study permit, to transitional options after the end of international student life. Today, Helen Han of MacLean Law explains the concept of a Canadian Study Permit and helps you understand: How to Become an International Student in Canada.
How to Become an International Student in Canada 1 877 602 9900
To obtain a Canadian Study Permit and become an international student in Canada, the following minimum criteria must be met:
- The student is accepted into a designated learning institution
- The student shall prove that they have enough money to pay for their stay in Canada, which includes tuition, food, housing, and returning transportation to the home country. If the student will have an accompanying spouse and/or even children coming to Canada with them, then the “enough money” should also cover their living costs and returning transportation.
- The student shall have no criminal record.
- The student shall be in good health and take an immigration medical exam if required by Canadian immigration regulations.
- The student shall prove to an immigration office that they will leave Canada when their study permit expires.
BC How to Become an International Student in Canada
1 877 602 9900
What are the required steps on How to Become an International Student in Canada? There are two ways to apply for a Canadian Study Permit:
- Apply to a Canadian visa office outside of Canada that is in or close to your country of residence.
- Apply at a Canadian port-of-entry (US citizens only)
Once the application is approved, one of the following will happen:
- If the student is a visa-exempt national (e.g. United States, South Korea, UK, Japan), the student will receive a Study Permit Approval Letter, enabling them to travel to Canada. At a Canadian port-of-entry, the student will simply present the Study Permit Approval Letter to an officer, who will issue them a Study Permit.
- If the student is a visa-requiring national (e.g. China, Russia, South Africa, India), the student will receive a notice to mail their passport to the nearest visa office for visa counterfoil stamping. Once they receive the passport back from the visa office, they will receive a Study Permit Approval Letter, enabling them to travel to Canada. At a Canadian port-of-entry, the student will simply present the Study Permit Approval Letter to an officer, who will issue them a Study Permit.
Processing times for Canadian Study Permit applications can vary greatly depending on the student’s country of residence at the time of applying. Students can check processing times at this Canadian Immigration Website website. Our Vancouver international student immigration lawyers note that certain students do not require a Study Permit to study in Canada. These include but not limited to:
- Minor children in Canada in certain situations.
- Students who are enrolled in studies that are 6 months or less which are not part of a longer program. For example, a student without a study permit can take a 4-month bookkeeping course at a college to develop their skillset. But if after completing the bookkeeping course, they wish to use those course credits to enrol in a 2-year accounting diploma program, they will have to apply for a Study Permit and cannot attend the courses of the program until they receive the Permit, which may take several months to arrive. Therefore, careful planning must be done in advance to ensure that precious time is not wasted.
Our Skilled Vancouver Immigration Lawyers Can Help
1 877 602 9900
We strongly encourage seeking legal professional help from an experienced lawyer or licensed immigration consultant for your study permit matters. If you have questions or concerns about How to Become an International Student in Canada and on obtaining a Study Permit in Canada, talk to MacLean Law at 1-877-602-9900 and our Vancouver international student immigration lawyers will resolve matters for you professionally.
