Study Permit Extension
Study Permit Extension
International students in Canada will frequently find themselves in situations where their current status is almost expiring but they are not ready to leave the country yet. Whether the student decides to pursue further education or there is the need to take additional courses, filling for a study permit extension is the solution. There are two important details to keep in mind; First and foremost, students should make sure that the validity of their passport is greater than the time they will be requesting the extension for. Secondly, students should avoid, as much as possible, losing their current status before putting in an extension application.
It is therefore recommendable to plan in advance in order to put together and submit an application before at least 1 month before the expiry of the original permit. Oftentimes, international students ask themselves what will happen if a response to their study permit extension request has not arrived before their current status expires. Students can also benefit from implied status. What this means is that if the current status expires but the application for study permit extension was already submitted, the student can continue to study under the same conditions of their previous status until a positive decision for an extension arrives.
It is very important to take all the necessary steps to submit a complete study permit extenstion application since this will avoid delays in processing and also rejections based on an incomplete file. If the last outcome were to happen, the incomplete application will be considered to have never been submitted. The consequences are bigger in this case since the student would not benefit from implied status and therefore, if their current status already expired, there is no way to reverse that expiration with an extension application anymore. In this case, there is still a solution and that is filing for restoration of status. Take into account that students cannot continue studying until the Minister of Immigration has restored their status and has provided them with the required extension.
When providing a full application, make sure you are providing proof of identity with a valid passport, proof of funds, proof of acceptance or enrolment with a designated learning institution program and proof of your academic standings. A complete application does require that you collaborate with your current or future institution to gather all the supporting documents that you will need from them. In addition, you will also be required to coordinate with your financial institution(s) as it is also important to demonstrate that you will have enough money for the extension of your stay.
The final step is to carefully review all the information provided in the forms and proceed with the right fee payment(s). Students should be prepared for potential lengthy processing times until an answer on the application is provided. If biometrics were not previously provided, then students should even apply with more time in advance to allow for this extra step. If traveling outside of Canada is needed while waiting for an answer, it is important to have a valid temporary resident visa or eTA to be able to travel back in Canada.
Study Permit Extension
International students in Canada will frequently find themselves in situations where their current status is almost expiring but they are not ready to leave the country yet. Whether the student decides to pursue further education or there is the need to take additional courses, filling for a study permit extension is the solution. There are two important details to keep in mind; First and foremost, students should make sure that the validity of their passport is greater than the time they will be requesting the extension for. Secondly, students should avoid, as much as possible, losing their current status before putting in an extension application.
It is therefore recommendable to plan in advance in order to put together and submit an application before at least 1 month before the expiry of the original permit. Oftentimes, international students ask themselves what will happen if a response to their study permit extension request has not arrived before their current status expires. Students can also benefit from implied status. What this means is that if the current status expires but the application for extension was already submitted, the student can continue to study under the same conditions of their previous status until a positive decision for an extension arrives.
It is very important to take all the necessary steps to submit a complete application since this will avoid delays in processing and also rejections based on an incomplete file. If the last outcome were to happen, the incomplete application will be considered to have never been submitted. The consequences are bigger in this case since the student would not benefit from implied status and therefore, if their current status already expired, there is no way to reverse that expiration with an extension application anymore. In this case, there is still a solution and that is filing for restoration of status. Take into account that students cannot continue studying until the Minister of Immigration has restored their status and has provided them with the required extension.
When providing a full application, make sure you are providing proof of identity with a valid passport, proof of funds, proof of acceptance or enrolment with a designated learning institution program and proof of your academic standings. A complete application does require that you collaborate with your current or future institution to gather all the supporting documents that you will need from them. In addition, you will also be required to coordinate with your financial institution(s) as it is also important to demonstrate that you will have enough money for the extension of your stay.
The final step is to carefully review all the information provided in the forms and proceed with the right fee payment(s). Students should be prepared for potential lengthy processing times until an answer on the application is provided. If biometrics were not previously provided, then students should even apply with more time in advance to allow for this extra step. If traveling outside of Canada is needed while waiting for an answer, it is important to have a valid temporary resident visa or eTA to be able to travel back in Canada.
Study Permit Extension
Students studying in Canada for more than 6 months need to have a study permit. Your study permit will have an expiry date which is also when you must leave Canada. Your study permit is issued depending on the length of your program. For example, if your program is from January 1st, 2020 to January 2nd, 2021, your study permit will expire on January 2nd, 2021 with an extra 90 days to prepare to leave Canada. However, if you fast track and complete your program earlier than expected, your study permit will expire 90 days after you complete your program.
Some basic information to remember:
- Apply for an extension at least 30 days before your permit expires. Do not wait till the last minute!
- The application fee will be $150 CAD + $85 Biometrics fee (you can check if you need to give biometrics or not on the cic website)
- The processing time is approximately 120 days. – another reason why you should apply 30 days before it expires!
- You are enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI) If you are not sure, you can find the list of DLI on the CIC website.
- A Study permit is not a visa.
So, now that we have some basic knowledge, how can I extend my study permit?
I highly recommend applying online. Not only will this save you from the anxiety of losing documents by mail, you can also check for updates on the website and receive direct messages from CIC.
Process for submitting an application:
- Make an account on CIC (if you don’t already have one).
- Choose the application for study permit extension.
- Upload the necessary documents.
- Pay the required fees and submit your application.
Once you start the application, you will have 60 days to submit it. If you need more than 60 days, you need to start a new application. In order to apply for a study permit, you need to provide proof of financial stability. This can be bank statements (last three months) or financial sponsor letter if someone is going to support you. Remember- you must show that you have enough money to pay your tuition and living expenses. You will also need to provide a letter of acceptance from the school. If you are extending your study permit because you have not finished your program, it is a good idea to include recent transcripts in your application to show that you are still completing your studies. In addition, as mentioned in the beginning, your study permit is not a visa. For those from a visa-exempt country, your eTA will be renewed automatically when your study permit is extended. However, for those who require a visa, please make sure to apply for a visa extension if needed. I understand applications can be confusing and stressful at times. Our team of registered immigration consultants are always available to assist you. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Smart Immigrant ( Study Permit Extension)
