URGENT, UBC vs UofT

[northface2]

Hi guys,

I'm finishing a 4-year Bachelor's degree this April. I recently applied to extend it using an offer letter from UBC for a program starting in September. Now I have another offer from UofT for the same intake (September). When I get my extended study permit some time this summer, will I be able to change DLI online from UBC to UofT and attend UofT instead of UBC? I know new rules came into effect in 2021 on changing DLIs but not sure if they apply in my case as I'm extending, not applying for my first study permit, and I attended and am soon finishing my studies at the DLI of the current study permit.

Any guidance is appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[Simba112]

Hi guys,

I'm finishing a 4-year Bachelor's degree this April. I recently applied to extend it using an offer letter from UBC for a program starting in September. Now I have another offer from UofT for the same intake (September). When I get my extended study permit some time this summer, will I be able to change DLI online from UBC to UofT and attend UofT instead of UBC? I know new rules came into effect in 2021 on changing DLIs but not sure if they apply in my case as I'm extending, not applying for my first study permit, and I attended and am soon finishing my studies at the DLI of the current study permit.

Any guidance is appreciated.

Thank you!

Yes you can change DLI online once extension is approved and have SP

 

[northface2]

Yes you can change DLI online once extension is approved and have SP

But when I change the DLI in the summer I won't be enrolled in any institution. How does that work with the new rules?

 

[Simba112]

But when I change the DLI in the summer I won't be enrolled in any institution. How does that work with the new rules?

You only change when you enrol to a new DLI and started your class, provided summer is your scheduled break

 

[northface2]

You only when you enrol to a new DLI provided summer is your scheduled break

Summer is the gap between my Bachelor's and Master's. Is that considered a scheduled break? If so, in the summer I'm considered to be both "enrolled at a DLI" and "actively studying"? If I'm considered to be enrolled at a DLI. what DLI is that? I will have finished my studies at previous DLI and not yet formally enrolled at the new DLI.

 

[Simba112]

Summer is the gap between my Bachelor's and Master's. Is that considered a scheduled break? If so, in the summer I'm considered to be both "enrolled at a DLI" and "actively studying"? If I'm considered to be enrolled at a DLI. what DLI is that? I will have finished my studies at previous DLI and not yet formally enrolled at the new DLI.

If i understood you correct, you applied to extend your study permit when you wrote "when i get my extended work permit some time this summer" and I suppose you used LOA from UBC to extend your SP. If you are approved, you can change DLI online as you are active student move to the next educational level. During summer and provided you have applied to extend your SP, you are considered to be under Implied Status/ during schedule break as UBC Student. I will add other members to validate my comment or advise otherwise @Naturgrl @scylla @wonderbly @PMM

 

[northface2]

Yes, you understood my situation correctly. I don't think I'm moving to the next educational level though since both Bachelor's and Master's are considered to be "Post-secondary", if I understand IRCC's guidelines correctly. Thanks for tagging these members. I look forward to hearing their opinions too. @Naturgrl @scylla @wonderbly @PMM

 

[wonderbly]

Yes, you understood my situation correctly. I don't think I'm moving to the next educational level though since both Bachelor's and Master's are considered to be "Post-secondary", if I understand IRCC's guidelines correctly. Thanks for tagging these members. I look forward to hearing their opinions too. @Naturgrl @scylla @wonderbly @PMM

@Simba112 is right, you will have no problem changing your DLI in Sept as you are a continuing student not a new SP applicant. As long as you have an offer letter for UofT already, the period between April and September should not affect you (it would not be considered a summer break for you, because you have already completed your studies in April, but it shouldn't matter)

One thing to note though, if the period between you completing your studies and starting your new program in Sept is longer than 150 days, your ability to work full time in that time might be impacted. You should look into that to make sure you are not violating any IRCC rules w.r.t to working.

 

[northface2]

@Simba112 is right, you will have no problem changing your DLI in Sept as you are a continuing student not a new SP applicant. As long as you have an offer letter for UofT already, the period between April and September should not affect you (it would not be considered a summer break for you, because you have already completed your studies in April, but it shouldn't matter)

One thing to note though, if the period between you completing your studies and starting your new program in Sept is longer than 150 days, your ability to work full time in that time might be impacted. You should look into that to make sure you are not violating any IRCC rules w.r.t to working.

Thank you very much for this insight. So what you're saying is I wait till I have already started studying at UofT in September and then change my DLI? Wouldn't that constitute unauthorized study since I've already started at a different DLI before notifying IRCC? How about the option to change my DLI some time before September? The gap is only 120 days (4 months) so my work authorization should be fine.

 

[canuck78]

Thank you very much for this insight. So what you're saying is I wait till I have already started studying at UofT in September and then change my DLI? Wouldn't that constitute unauthorized study since I've already started at a different DLI before notifying IRCC? How about the option to change my DLI some time before September? The gap is only 120 days (4 months) so my work authorization should be fine.

You must update your DLI before you start attending U of T. Given that you have already received LOA you should send in a webform with your U of T LOA to update your study permit extension application noting that you are now planning on attending U of T and not UBC.

 

[wonderbly]

Thank you very much for this insight. So what you're saying is I wait till I have already started studying at UofT in September and then change my DLI? Wouldn't that constitute unauthorized study since I've already started at a different DLI before notifying IRCC? How about the option to change my DLI some time before September? The gap is only 120 days (4 months) so my work authorization should be fine.

The new IRCC rules does not apply to you as you are extending an existing SP. It only applies to students who applied for SP for the first time and wants to change their DLI before their SP is activated.

All you need to do is transfer your DLI via your GCKey account. If you do not have a GCKey account (if you applied through an agent for your initial app, or did a paper application), send your new LOA through webform to IRCC to let them know you are changing.

 

[northface2]

You must update your DLI before you start attending U of T. Given that you have already received LOA you should send in a webform with your U of T LOA to update your study permit extension application noting that you are now planning on attending U of T and not UBC.

Ok let's pose the question this way: assume that I still plan to attend UBC all the way up to when I receive my extension. Then I change my mind and decide to go to UofT instead. Would I be able to change DLI on my online account in this hypothetical scenario without applying for a new one? If so, should I change it just before starting at UofT or just after?

 

[canuck78]

Ok let's pose the question this way: assume that I still plan to attend UBC all the way up to when I receive my extension. Then I change my mind and decide to go to UofT instead. Would I be able to change DLI on my online account in this hypothetical scenario without applying for a new one? If so, should I change it just before starting at UofT or just after?

Academia world in Canada is very small and assume the masters are in a similar subject. If you have been accepted to both programs dragging it out until the last minute before picking will not go over well.

 

[wonderbly]

Ok let's pose the question this way: assume that I still plan to attend UBC all the way up to when I receive my extension. Then I change my mind and decide to go to UofT instead. Would I be able to change DLI on my online account in this hypothetical scenario without applying for a new one? If so, should I change it just before starting at UofT or just after?

You can change your DLI whenever, as long as it does not cause an extended break in your studies. After your extension has been approved for UBC, go ahead and register with UoT and simply transfer your DLI on your online account before the start of classes. This is the way it's done prior to the new IRCC rule (which again, does not apply in your case).

 

[northface2]

The new IRCC rules does not apply to you as you are extending an existing SP. It only applies to students who applied for SP for the first time and wants to change their DLI before their SP is activated.

All you need to do is transfer your DLI via your GCKey account. If you do not have a GCKey account (if you applied through an agent for your initial app, or did a paper application), send your new LOA through webform to IRCC to let them know you are changing.

I do have an account since I do all these things myself. I couldn't find any information online confirming that the new rules do not apply to students extending an SP. Are you sure about this?