New two-step Canadian study permit process for international students

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released details on how the new two-step Canadian study permit approval process will work for international students.

This process will allow international students to start the semester online without a finalised study permit, said CIC News.

It is available to students starting a programme in the fall semester who submit a study permit application before Sept. 15, 2020.

Getting a Canadian study permit for fall 2020

These measures are aimed at helping #intlstudents pursue their education in Canada #studypermit https://t.co/NGWrBgbEgj

— Study International (@Study_INTNL) July 16, 2020

International students will have to submit the following to obtain a study permit:

• Letter of acceptance;
• Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (for Quebec students only);
• Proof of funds;
• Proof that they can leave Canada when they no longer have legal temporary or permanent status; and
• Any family ties to Canada;
• Immigration officers will assess these applications and issue pre-approval at their discretion. International students can begin studying at this stage.

To get the full study permit and eventually be able to travel to Canada, international students will need to submit:

• Immigration medical examination
• Security-Police certificates
• Biometrics

IRCC also announced last week that it is providing a fast-track study permit process for students who have submitted a complete application online to ensure that permits are processed as quickly as possible.

Regular requirements for Student Direct Stream

Despite a pandemic, 67,000 international students arrived on its shores between January and April 2020. Source: Dave Chan/AFP

CIC News said international students who are applying under the Student Direct Stream (SDS) are only eligible for the expedited study-permit programme if they can submit a full application. 

World Education Services (WES) notes that the SDS does not replace IRCC’s regular study permit programme, only that it is “an expedited stream”. 

If a student applies for the SDS but does not qualify, then their application is processed under regular processing procedures, it said.

Only international students from China, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Senegal and Vietnam are eligible for the SDS.

If they cannot submit a full application, students must apply under the regular process or wait until they can supply all the necessary documents to be eligible for it, said CIC News. IRCC also said that there may be delays.

The SDS aims to process study permits in 20 days. 

IRCC has also changed the eligibility requirements for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

International students can now do half of their programme online and still be eligible for the work permit that could allow them to stay in Canada for at least three more years.

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