Canadian Student Visa Q&A

Q: What is a student visa?

Answer: 

A student visa is a type of visit visa, and it is an ID card for foreign students to study legally in Canada. When an international student enters Canada for the first time, the airport immigration office will issue another "Study permit", which indicates the name of the school the student is studying, the length of study, and the conditions to be complied with. If the student transfers, the immigration office needs to be notified. The study permit can be extended, and it is generally necessary to submit an extension application when it expires.

Q: What are the basic requirements for a student visa?

Answer: 

1. You have been admitted to a school recognized by the Canadian government;

2. You have the sufficient financial ability to pay the tuition and living expenses for studying in Canada;

3. You will return to China after completing your studies in Canada (without immigration intention);

4. You are not a threat to the social security of Canada;

5. Your physical health.

Q: How much does it cost to apply for a Canadian student visa?

Answer: The basic fees that need to be paid include:

Canadian school application fee (depending on the applying school, non-refundable); notarization fee (depending on the notarized materials and notary institutions); visa fee (non-refundable, paid according to the official Canadian directory); biometric information collection fee Biometric Fee (if It has already been collected, and this fee does not need to be paid); medical examination fee (the specific fee depends on the medical examination hospital specified by the embassy)

Q: Can I apply for a Canadian student visa without TOEFL or IELTS scores?

Answer: Yes.

If you don't have TOEFL, you can apply for language study first. We recommend that you apply for the university’s conditional undergraduate admission letter (that is, what we call “dual admission”) to ensure the success rate of your visa. After any language test recognized by the university, such as the school's language proficiency test, TOEFL, IELTS, etc., you can officially start the undergraduate professional course study. Most schools offer "dual admission" courses, such as the top-ranked University of Victoria, University of Alberta, University of Western Ontario, University of Northern British Columbia, etc.

Q: How much guaranteed money is required to apply for studying in Canada? Is the more guaranteed money the better?

Answer: The general guarantee amount is the sum of the school fees you apply for, living expenses, and return air tickets. The guarantee deposit is not the better, the most important thing is to be able to explain that the guarantee deposit is a legal and stable source for the guarantor.

 Q: What is the visa rate for studying in Canada? What are the usual reasons for a visa refusal?

 Answer: The visa rate for undergraduate and graduate students is higher than that for language, preparatory and tertiary institutions, and the visa rate for secondary schools is lower than the former two. Generally, there are three main reasons for visa refusal: one is that the application materials are not provided according to the requirements of the embassy, or false materials are provided;

Q: When applying for a visa, do I need to attend an interview?

 Answer: The Canadian student visa is a material application visa, and the chance of an interview is generally small. The visa officer will decide whether to invite you to participate in the interview after reviewing your application materials and notify the time and place.

Q: How can I extend my student visa?

Answer: Please submit the student permit extension application online three months before the student visa expires. Submit the new notice (or certificate of attendance) together with the visa fee to the local immigration bureau to apply for an extension.

It should be noted that: According to immigration law if your student visa expires in 90 days, you will be allowed to leave the country within a limited time and apply for a new entry visa.

Q: Can I work part-time legally during school?

Answer: In most cases, after applying for a Social Insurance Number (SIN), you can work off-campus for 20 hours a week during your studies, and there is no time limit for working on-campus. You can work full-time during the holidays without an additional application for a work permit.

Q: Can I work legally in Canada after finishing my studies?

Answer: After completing high school or above in a school designated by the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada, a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) of different lengths will be granted according to the length of the semester. You can work legally during the validity period of the graduation work permit. Each applicant can only obtain a post-graduation work permit once in a lifetime.

Q: Can I stay after finishing my studies in Canada?

Answer: Welcome! Canada is an immigrant country with a small population and an aging population. Therefore, it is very necessary to introduce some outstanding talents from abroad. Many international students choose to apply for a graduate work permit to work after graduation. Depending on your personal situation, you can choose from multiple projects.

Q: How to carry the study abroad fee when going abroad?

Answer: The Foreign Exchange Administration of the People's Bank of China and the Customs have clear regulations on the currency carried by Chinese citizens leaving the country, and the quantity is limited. It is recommended that you apply for a foreign exchange card before leaving the country. On the one hand, it is safe to carry it. On the other hand, parents should transfer the fee directly from China to the student's foreign exchange card when needed, which is fast and convenient.

Q: How will my accommodation be arranged after I arrive in Canada?

Answer: Generally, there are three ways for foreign students to live in Canada:

 1. Live in the apartment of the school, but the number of foreign student apartments is limited, and it is generally necessary to apply several months or even half a year in advance;

 2. It is more economical to share a house with classmates near the school;

3. The cost of boarding with a local family is slightly higher, but for students who are new to a foreign country, it is very beneficial in terms of language learning, environmental adaptation, and personal safety.

Q: Can I re-apply after a visa refusal?

Answer: Yes, but it depends on the reason for the refusal and the specific case. If the refusal is due to the provision of false materials, it is not suitable to re-apply; If the visa is refused for any reason, you can reapply. We have helped many students who have been rejected by Canada and the United States to obtain Canadian study visas.