Study in Canada FAQ
The first step is to get admission to a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) recognized by the government of Canada. Once an individual receives a letter of acceptance from a DLI, he or she may be eligible to apply for a study permit. Applications may be made online or by mail. All new study permits are issued at a Canadian port of entry. An applicant who has applied to a foreign Canadian Visa Office will be issued a letter of approval advising him or her to travel to a Canadian port of entry to have the study permit issued. A study permit is generally issued for the duration of the person’s studies.
A Study permit grant permission to international students to pursue their studies while in Canada while Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) allows the individual to entry into Canada. Applicants applying from countries whose citizens require TRV to enter Canada will be issued a TRV automatically if the application for a study permit is approved. The same also applies to applicants from countries whose citizens need an Electronics Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter Canada by air.
Processing time for study permit vary by visa office.
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An applicant may need a criminal record check if he or she intends to come to Canada as a student. Police certificates are required to determine if applicant has a criminal records and to ensure that the applicant is not a security risk to Canada.
An applicant may be required to undergo a medical examination based on the discretion of the visa officer processing the application.
An international student may be eligible to work while studying in Canada. A student must have a valid study permit and be enrolled full-time in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Study permit holders may be allowed to work for
up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions and full time during scheduled breaks.
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Post-Graduation Work Permit FAQ
A PGWP is an open work permit available to international graduates from eligible Canadian educational institutions. It allows the holder to work for any employer anywhere in Canada.
The PGWP may be issued for a maximum of three years, depending on the length of the graduate’s program of study in Canada. For example, if the study program was one year in duration, the PGWP will usually be issued for the same length of time (in this case one year). If, however, the study program was two years or more in duration, a PGWP may be issued for up to three years.
You can apply for your PGWP once you have completed, the requirement of your program, and received a notification of your eligibility to graduate. This can be proved with a transcript or an official letter. At the time of application, a candidate must hold a valid study permit. Additionally, the application must be submitted within 90 days of receiving written confirmation that the candidate has completed his or her studies.
No. When a PGWP is about to expire, the holder must apply for a different permit or visa if he or she wishes to continue working in Canada.
A candidate can pursue both programs at the same time. A PGWP is a popular way for graduates to remain in Canada and work while waiting for the application for permanent residency to be processed.
A study or work permit is not a visa and doesn't allow you to enter Canada. If your TRV or eTA is still valid, and your study permit has not expired you may be able to return to Canada. If your TRV or eTA has expired, you will need to apply for a new one. If your application for a PGWP was approved during your time outside of Canada, you may enter the country as a worker. A border officer may ask for proof that you applied for a PGWP when you return to the country. For example, a copy of your application, the fee payment receipt, etc.
Express Entry FAQ
Express Entry is an electronic management application system for immigration to Canada. It is not an immigration program. Rather, it facilitates the selection and processing of Canada’s economic immigration programs:
- The Federal Skilled Trader Class
- The Canadian Experience Class
- The Federal Skilled Worker Class
- Provincial Nominee Program.
If this happens, it is known as misrepresentation and, depending on the nature and severity of the false claim, carries penalties. A potential candidate who has been found to have provided false information going into the Express Entry pool can be banned from re-entering the pool for five years. Therefore, it is hugely important to provide accurate and correct information always. Candidates who are unsure about how to assess their own abilities and credentials may want to seek advice from a Regulated Immigration Consultant or an immigration lawyer before entering the Express Entry pool.
Yes, all candidates need to take a language test in order to determine their language abilities. As part of their Express Entry profile, candidates must submit valid language test results obtained within the past two years.
Each profile remains in the Express Entry pool for a period of 12 months or until an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence is issued, whichever comes first. If after 12 months a candidate wishes to remain in the pool, he or she may create a fresh profile
Candidates who receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence from a Canadian province or territory should have the intention to reside in that particular province or territory. The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are set up to address local and regional labour market needs, and so it follows that candidates invited to apply through a PNP are deemed likely to succeed in that particular province or territory. Once a candidate has landed in Canada, however, he or she will have the right to freedom of movement within Canada, as well as the right to live and work anywhere in Canada for any employer.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly known as CIC) aims to process the majority of complete applications received within six months from the date of submission.
Yes, Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWPs) continue to be available under Express Entry. However, the candidate must obtain approval-in-principle of their application before he or she can apply for the work permit.
A successful applicant can bring his or her spouse (i.e. husband or wife) or common-law partner, as well as dependent children, to Canada. In the case of married couples and common-law partners, only one of the partners needs to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
