Canada makes huge changes to help international students

Canada makes huge changes to help international students – COVID-19 Update

• Providing priority study-permit processing for students who have submitted a complete visa application online, to ensure that study permits are processed as quickly as possible for applications submitted before 15th Sept. 2020.
• Allowing students to count the time spent pursuing their studies online abroad towards their eligibility for a post-graduation work permit, if they have submitted a study permit application and received Approval In Principle and if at least 50% of their program is completed in Canada.
• Providing reassurances to international students who cannot submit all of the documentation needed to complete processing of their visa applications, and who choose to pursue programs through distance learning, by implementing a temporary 2-stage approval process.

• “Approval-In-Principle” stage will include showing that the applicant has been accepted at a Canadian learning institution, have the available funds and are otherwise eligible for the study permit—will be notified of a first-step approval.
• Once the Approval-In-Principle is issued, applicants can begin studying online abroad and have that time count towards their post-graduation work permit, provided they meet other criteria and that they eventually receive full approval of their study permit.
• An applicant will receive final approval once they have met all eligibility and admissibility requirements, including submitting biometrics and necessary documents such as an immigration medical exam and a police certificate. Only once a final approval is received will an applicant be able to travel to Canada.

Road to Abroad has inquired about the approval-in-principle (AIP) requirements, and we would like to share with you the list of documents that students must provide when they apply for the study permit so the visa officers can do the initial eligibility assessment.

SDS Applicants Must Provide: 

• Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada
• Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAN$10,000 or more
• A receipt demonstrating tuition has been paid for the first year of school
• IELTS test results with a minimum score of 6.0 in each band
• Most recent secondary or post-secondary school transcripts
• Certificat d’Acceptation du Québec (CAQ) for Quebec-bound students

Non-SDS Applicants Must Provide: 

• LOA from a DLI in Canada
• Documents to demonstrate they have liquid funds to pay for living expenses and tuition for at least the first year of school
• Evidence of how they intend to pay for their remaining years of school
• IELTS, TOEFL or PTE test results with scores equivalent to IELTS 6.0 in each band (student must give us access to their online results for this test)
• Most recent secondary or post-secondary school transcripts
• Certificat d’Acceptation du Québec (CAQ) for Quebec-bound students

It is also recommended that all students provide a letter of motivation explaining why they chose their specific program of study and why they chose Canada as a study destination.

For the admissibility stage, before a final decision is made, officers will review the following:

• Immigration medical examination
• Biometrics
• Police certificates (to be provided only upon request by the visa officer)

Related Content:

-Duolingo English Test: an alternative to IELTS and TOEFL during COVID-19 disruption.

– Canada Post-Graduate Work Permit amidst COVID-19.

– Read Our Blog and News Section for lates updates on study abroad news, scholarships, application fee waivers, etc.