Can I apply for a study permit from outside of Canada while I'm staying in Canada?

[Kate W]

Hello All.

I finished a one-year long program in June 2021, but after my study permit expired over 90 days I applied for visitor record in Canada and it will be valid until May 2023. Base on my situation, I will not be eligible to apply for a new study permit from within Canada. Does anyone know if I can apply for a study permit from my home country while I'm staying in Canada with visitor status?

Please help
Many thanks in advance

 

[scylla]

Hello All.

I finished a one-year long program in June 2021, but after my study permit expired over 90 days I applied for visitor record in Canada and it will be valid until May 2023. Base on my situation, I will not be eligible to apply for a new study permit from within Canada. Does anyone know if I can apply for a study permit from my home country while I'm staying in Canada with visitor status?

Please help
Many thanks in advance

You can apply outside of Canada however this can reduce the chances of approval since it's more difficult to show ties to your home country. If you do this, you would want to make sure you pick a program of study that is a strong choice, shows a progression of studies and makes sense in light of your previous education and work experience. Based on the information you've provided, you also now have a 1.5 year gap where you presumably have not been studying or working. So this will need to be explained as well. Have you just been staying in Canada as a visitor for the last 1.5 years without working / studying? What are you planning to study next?

 

[Kate W]

You can apply outside of Canada however this can reduce the chances of approval since it's more difficult to show ties to your home country. If you do this, you would want to make sure you pick a program of study that is a strong choice, shows a progression of studies and makes sense in light of your previous education and work experience. Based on the information you've provided, you also now have a 1.5 year gap where you presumably have not been studying or working. So this will need to be explained as well. Have you just been staying in Canada as a visitor for the last 1.5 years without working / studying? What are you planning to study next?

Hi Scylla. Thank you for your reply.
I graduated in December 2021 and now it's nearly one year gap. My previous school is not included in the DLI lists, which means I'm not eligible to apply for open wp. I was majored in accounting and my new offer is a two-year program of computer programming. May I ask of you know how to apply from outside of Canada? I'm getting confused because I answered the questions on the IRCC website it just showed that I have to leave Canada to apply for a new study permit.

 

[scylla]

Hi Scylla. Thank you for your reply.
I graduated in December 2021 and now it's nearly one year gap. My previous school is not included in the DLI lists, which means I'm not eligible to apply for open wp. I was majored in accounting and my new offer is a two-year program of computer programming. May I ask of you know how to apply from outside of Canada? I'm getting confused because I answered the questions on the IRCC website it just showed that I have to leave Canada to apply for a new study permit.

I can't tell you exactly how to apply this way but I know others here have done this. Hopefully someone else will comment.

Do you have any past education or work experience at all in programming? If not, it may be quite difficult to get the study permit approved.

 

[Kate W]

I can't tell you exactly how to apply this way but I know others here have done this. Hopefully someone else will comment.

Do you have any past education or work experience at all in programming? If not, it may be quite difficult to get the study permit approved.

No work experience at all. I’m 20 years old. I should probably spend more time on my study plan before applying.
Thank you for your generous reply.

 

[scylla]

No work experience at all. I’m 20 years old. I should probably spend more time on my study plan before applying.
Thank you for your generous reply.

I'll be honest. I think a new study permit while you are in Canada may be a pretty tough sell. You first studies were at a school that wasn't a DLI. You don't have any work experience. You've been in Canada for a year since finishing your studies not working and not studying. Your next choice of studies have nothing to do with your first studies. You effectively have no ties to your home country. Unfortunately you're at risk of not looking like a genuine student to IRCC but just someone who's trying to find any way to stay here longer. If you want to apply for a study permit while in Canada, IMO the only option that gives you a strong chance of approval is a bachelor program at a decent public university. I'm assuming you don't have a bachelor from your home country. Is that right?

 

[Kate W]

I'll be honest. I think a new study permit while you are in Canada may be a pretty tough sell. You first studies were at a school that wasn't a DLI. You don't have any work experience. You've been in Canada for a year since finishing your studies not working and not studying. Your next choice of studies have nothing to do with your first studies. You effectively have no ties to your home country. Unfortunately you're at risk of not looking like a genuine student to IRCC but just someone who's trying to find any way to stay here longer. If you want to apply for a study permit while in Canada, IMO the only option that gives you a strong chance of approval is a bachelor program at a decent public university. I'm assuming you don't have a bachelor from your home country. Is that right?

No, I graduated from high school in Toronto 2020 when I was 18.

 

[scylla]

No, I graduated from high school in Toronto 2020 when I was 18.

Yeah - I don't know. Tricky situation.

Bachelor degree would be your best option if you want a good chance of this working out.

 

[Kate W]

Yeah - I don't know. Tricky situation.

Bachelor degree would be your best option if you want a good chance of this working out.

A bachelor degree is more reasonable than having another diploma. Sadly my parents don’t have enough money to give me a four-year long financial support to apply for the sp.

 

[scylla]

A bachelor degree is more reasonable than having another diploma. Sadly my parents don’t have enough money to give me a four-year long financial support to apply for the sp.

I guess you can try applying and see what happens. If you're refused, that will be a clear signal that you need to return to your home country, spend some time there to strengthen your profile, and then reapply.

Keep in mind that if you do go ahead and apply now, it's too late to secure a study permit for the January term. So the earliest you can plan to start is a May or September term.

 

[Kate W]

I guess you can try applying and see what happens. If you're refused, that will be a clear signal that you need to return to your home country, spend some time there to strengthen your profile, and then reapply.

Keep in mind that if you do go ahead and apply now, it's too late to secure a study permit for the January term. So the earliest you can plan to start is a May or September term.

I appreciate your advice. I already received an offer which will start in May 2023.

 

[scylla]

I appreciate your advice. I already received an offer which will start in May 2023.

Consider returning to your home country and applying from there. This can only help your profile - especially if you work there while waiting.