Study Permit & Visa

A Student Visa is the document that gets you into Canada and is used whenever you enter the country. It is not to be confused with your Study Permit. which is the document that entitles you to stay in Canada.

Documents

Before you start with documentation, you need to have the following ready:

  1. Offer letter of admission from the University.
    Note: Canadian universities don’t give out I20s or any other forms to apply for the Visa. All you need is the admission offer letter, which describes your discipline, level of study, duration, and financial support and requirements.
  2. A Financial statement showing funds to sustain you during the course of your study at UVic.
    Note: This would be an official notarized document showing bank statements, fixed deposits, movable-immovable assets, etc.

Visa application process

The following is the Visa application process followed by Citizenship Immigration Canada(CIC). For the latest updates visit CIC Website.

The application for a Visa& Study Permit can be made either by post or by visiting personally. Applications by Post take approximately 15-20 days to process after it reaches them. If you apply in-person, it will take about 10-15 days for them to process it after which, if you are cleared, you will receive a form to go get your medicals done. If not, you will receive an Application denied letter.

Once you are done with your medicals, the doctor will send the report directly to the CIC for review. If everything is ok, you will receive a call asking you to go and get your Visa stamped on your Passport. It might take a couple of weeks from the time you give your medicals to the time you get the call.

After receiving the call, you can go personally and get the Visa stamped or send your Passport by courier.

Overview

So just to recap, the application process is as follows:

  1. Pick up the Student Authorization forms from the Canadian Embassy or Consulate or get it online from CIC website (www.cic.gc.ca).
  2. Fill out the form following the instructions and submit only those documents that are asked for.
  3. Be sure to write a good Statement of Purpose along with the application.
    Note: This is an important document and holds a lot of weight for your application.
  4. Arrange all the documents, in a plain and simple folder, in the order they are asked for.
    Note: CIC does not need the original documents. They want copies as they will put the documents on your record and you will not get them back.
  5. Prepare the Demand Draft or Bank Draft if applying by post or withdraw cash if you intend to apply in person.

Explore the following links to Student Visa applications for Canadian universities.

  1. Visa Application Information: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp
  2. Information about the Canadian Embassy in New-Delhi: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions/new-delhi.asp