Covid-19 has led to an adjustment in student visa procedures for international students. Here are all the things you need to know about changes to student visas in Canada
In addition to restrictions and online classes, Covid-19 has also disrupted overall student visa application processes. As a preferred study abroad destination, Canada has made several adjustments to its study permit application formula to accommodate foreign students. . It is essential not to forget that exam permits and student visas mean the same thing here.
Below is everything you need to know about the changes to study permits in Canada due to the pandemic.
To apply for a study permit as a foreign student, the Canadian university you attend will need to be a designated learning institution. DLIs are establishments identified by the Canadian government that have a sufficient quarantine plan to safely receive the arrival of foreign students.
Many universities have been approved as DLI, and you can check if your university is listed in this Canadian government search tool.
Canadian visa application centres around the world have had to close or restrict the ones they offer due to local lockdowns, making it harder than before for foreign academics to gather all the documents they need. You can use this search tool to locate the nearest Canadian hub. Visa Application Centre (VAC) and find out what they have to offer lately.
In response to this, Canada’s visa procedure has been adapted to a two-step formula to allow students to begin their studies remotely without having to submit all the bureaucracy required for a full study permit.
In the first step of the new system, all applicants for examination permits will be required to submit the following:
However, academics can now submit permit programs without the following documents:
If an application for an examination permit is submitted without those documents but would otherwise be deemed eligible, it will be “approved in principle. “While you will not be able to enter Canada with this result, you will be allowed to start. Read a Canadian university course remotely from your home country. Previously, you had to have a fully approved exam permit to start your courses, even remotely.
The second step of the procedure can begin once you have received and submitted the remaining missing documents on your application, after which you will receive a letter stating that your examination permit has been fully approved.
Once obtained, you will be able to travel to Canada and activate your exam permit upon entering the country, as long as the university you are entering is a registered DLI.
Student Direct Stream (SDS) is an accelerated edition of the exam permit application formula for Canada. Students from the Philippines, China, India, Vietnam, Pakistan, Morocco, or Senegal can apply and take advantage of faster processing times with their visas. processing in about 20 calendar days.
To be eligible for SDS, you will need to be from one of the countries above and meet several additional requirements. These come with more stringent language qualifications than those required through the normal exam permit and a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) showing that you have an investment account with a balance of $10,000 CAD or more.
This SDS is still open despite Covid-19 disruptions, however, you can only apply through the SDS if you have all your documents. If you don’t have all your documents ready, you’ll need to apply using the normal formula to get approval in principle for your examination permit.
There have been delays in processing the SDS, so please take time to submit your application.
On 12 February 2021, the Canadian government announced an easing of eligibility requirements for post-graduation work permits. This permit allows international graduates of Canadian universities to live and work in Canada for up to three years as long as their course was two or more years in duration.
It is now possible to complete your entire degree at a Canadian university abroad and still be eligible to apply for a post-graduate work permit, if you have an approved study permit that allows you to work remotely.
Previously, academics were required to stay in Canada for at least 50% of their studies, but this measure has been extended to account for existing disruptions similar to those of Covid-19.