Study permit rejected, please help

[har11]

Hi friends,
So here's my situation and profile.

• Graduated with B.S. degree in Computer Science from top engineering school in the U.S.
• Working as a software engineer full time.
• Got CS grad offer from SFU.
• Applying from the U.S. instead of my home country since I'm working here.
• Deposited about 60k CAD in my home country and provided the official personal certificate of deposit form the bank with the application.

Here are the rejection reasons:

Pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulation, I am not satisfied that you:

• have sufficient and available financial resources, without working in Canada, to pay the tuition fees for the course or program of studies that you intend to pursue
• have sufficient and available financial resources, without working in Canada, to maintain yourself and any family members who are accompanying you during your proposed period of study
• have sufficient and available financial resources, without working in Canada, to pay the costs of transporting yourself and any family members who are accompanying you to and from Canada.

You have not satisfied me that you would leave Canada at the end of your stay. In reaching this decision, I considered several factors, including:

• immigration status in country of residence
• length of proposed stay in Canada
• purpose of visit
• current employment situation
• personal assets and financial status.

Other reasons:
- Evidence of financial resources lacks banking history, source, and availability.
- Insufficient evidence of valid U.S. immigration status document and academic credentials.


What I submitted with my application as supporting documents:

• Offer letter from the school that has tuition costs and other numbers in it.
  • Estimated tuition and mandatory fees for first 12 months: $31,110.00
• Certificate of deposit from the most reputable bank in my home country, around 60k CAD after conversion.

Now because the cic website showed very little information so I thought study plan or statement of purpose is optional so I didn't submit one, I'll make sure I submit a strong one this time. I would appreciate any advice on how to make it strong regarding the list of reason I got rejected. Thanks

What I will submit with my reapplication:

• Diploma for my degree along with an official transcript.
• i20 and i94, documents to prove my status in the U.S.
• Employment verification letter from my employer
• Paystubs (how many months is enough?)
• Tax return docs (if anyone thinks this won't be helpful please let me know.
• I don't have a lot of balance in my bank account right now because I take out a decent amount off my paycheck and invest then into stock and cryptocurrency. I have right under 10k USD right now, will bank statement helpful in my case? I still have 3k in stock. I try to keep cryptocurrency out of the way since it is a touchy topic in every country.
• A strong SOP.

To sum up my question:

• How to make my SOP strong
• Estimated tuition and mandatory fees for first 12 months is $31,110.00 on the offer letter, is 60k CAD not enough for a 16-month program?
• Do I need to provide the source for the 60k deposit? They come from the payment distrubuted from the confiscated land from the local government. I have letter from the local government stating my portion of the payment and it has been notarized for authenticity and translated into English as well. I know this is an odd source of income so I'm hesitated to upload it. What do you guys think? Note I can try to increase my deposit to around 80k cad if needed.
• Does applying after getting rejected for the first time dramatically decrease my case of approval?

Please kindly share your ideas with me, school starts in about 2 months and I am honestly worried, couldn't even focus on work today

And in case you are interested in the timeline, I submitted online on May 21 and received the rejection today(Jun 25).

 

[har11]

If there's great template that I can reference for the SOP please kindly share as well

 

[MrBoombastic]

I think there are two things here -

1. Your financial standing is a bit suspect. Your fees is 31k which is a lot and you have 60k in your account. Now, the VO will be thinking why you would want to leave a paying job to pursue such an expensive program, especially since it dips so substantially into your savings. That is a common theme I have seen in some rejected gcms notes that I have read. Write a sop explaining why it's an important course and what it can do for your career. I would also recommend you to pay your first semester/first year fees to make your financial side stronger.

2. But the biggest thing is you have forgotten to attach docs to show your status in the US. Without this the VO has no idea whether you have overstayed in the US or not etc. Attach the study / work visa.

 

[bongoman]

Finances is the big issue, you need first years tuition + 10,000 (Living cost) + 2-5,000(Misc).
Certificate of deposit is not enough, should be a bank statement of 3 months or so, also the fact that you are in US but bank is in another country is highly suspect, should have kept the money with you and submitted US bank statement.

Also look at the paper based application for US, it has a list of required documents you need to provide.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/student.asp

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO IMM 5483
(Document Checklist for a Study Permit)
Document Checklist for a Study Permit (IMM 5483), duly completed and to be submitted
with your application.
Application for Study Permit made Outside of Canada (IMM 1294): it must be
completed on a computer, validated to generate a barcode and printed in black and white
using a laser printer and high quality paper. Failure to include this page of barcodes will
delay the processing of your application.

You must also provide an email address at which we can contact you. Failure to provide an
email address will result in delay and possible refusal of your application.
Note: If you have answered “yes” to any of the background information questions 3 to 6 on
the application form, you must provide a completed and signed Schedule 1 form
(Application for Temporary Resident Visa – IMM 5257B) and include it with your
application. If you are currently serving of have served in a military, security or police
organization, you must also attach an official résumé issued by your organization.
Family Information Form [IMM 5707], fully completed, dated and signed. You must
answer every question. If not applicable, write N/A.
If you are a minor of less than 18 years of age, you must submit a copy of the birth
registration bearing the name of both parents or a copy of custody documents for
the child, if only applicable, in addition to the a signed and notarized custodianship
declaration form (IMM 5646).
Valid passport from each person requiring a temporary resident visa. The validity of a visa
cannot go beyond the validity of the passport. Keep two photocopies of the ID page in case a
medical exam is required.
Include all cancelled or expired passports, if applicable.
If you are not in your country of citizenship, please provide proof of your current valid
legal status in the United States of America.
In addition to a copy of your letter of acceptance from the institution or university in
Canada, please include a study plan describing clearly and in detail your proposed studies
and related activities in Canada. Your study plan must include the following:
 the purpose of your studies;
 your overall educational goal and how this program will enhance your employment
opportunities in your country of residence or citizenship;
 your itinerary; and,
 the names and addresses of any persons and institutions that you will be visiting.
Proof of financial support – Provide your personal monthly or quarterly bank
statements for savings accounts, chequing accounts or term deposit certificates for
the past three months, which show sufficient economic solvency to support your study
plan. Do not provide print-outs of transactions
If you are not paying for your own trip – Also submit all the following additional
documents:
 A letter signed and dated from the person paying for your trip/studies, clearly
stating what expenses will be covered.
 Their personal monthly or quarterly bank statements for savings accounts,
chequing accounts or term deposit certificates for the past three months,
which show sufficient economic solvency to support the application.
 Evidence of their source of income, usually in the form of an employment letter;
it should indicate their position, period of employment, salary.
Evidence of relationship between this person and the applicant.

Additional documents required:
 Evidence of current activity in your current country of residence:
o For salaried workers: Provide an employment letter stating your position, period of employment, salary and exact dates of departure and return from your leave.
o For self-employed, contractors or business owners: Provide a copy of your contract(s), business registration and tax documents.
o For students who will resume studies after their program in Canada: Provide evidence of current enrolment, for instance a letter from the educational institution you are attending in your current country of residence and confirming the program of study, time required for the completion of the program, vacation period, registration and payment made to return to studies to this learning institution, etc.
o For students who have completed their studies: Provide evidence of the completion of your studies, such as a diploma, certificate, etc.
 Confirmation of Up-Front Medical Examination: If you have completed a medical examination before submitting your application with a panel physician from the list available on the IRCC website, you must include a copy of the document that the doctor will give you confirming that you underwent a medical exam.
Note: Not all students applying for a Study Permit require a medical examination. For those requiring one, it is also not mandatory to complete a medical examination before submitting an application. However, doing so may result in faster processing.
If you do not undergo an up-front medical examination and you required to do so, you will receive instructions by email during the processing of your application. Please ensure you include an email address on your application form to expedite the process.
Also, please be informed that undergoing an up-front medical examination does not guarantee approval of your application, and that all costs for the medical examination are payable by the applicant and non-refundable.
You can find more information on the IRCC website, under "Medical exam requirements for temporary residents (visitors, students and workers)".

 

[har11]

I think there are two things here -

1. Your financial standing is a bit suspect. Your fees is 31k which is a lot and you have 60k in your account. Now, the VO will be thinking why you would want to leave a paying job to pursue such an expensive program, especially since it dips so substantially into your savings. That is a common theme I have seen in some rejected gcms notes that I have read. Write a sop explaining why it's an important course and what it can do for your career. I would also recommend you to pay your first semester/first year fees to make your financial side stronger.

2. But the biggest thing is you have forgotten to attach docs to show your status in the US. Without this the VO has no idea whether you have overstayed in the US or not etc. Attach the study / work visa.

Thanks for the quick reply. I will try to explain the first point by stating that I see limited career growth down this path and attending the program will make me more competitive on the job market. I would pay the tuition fee first if I can, but it doesn't allow me to do so just yet.

Should I directly say in my SOP that I was rejected previously, and I will emphasize on the reason I was rejected for this time?

 

[har11]

Finances is the big issue, you need first years tuition + 10,000 (Living cost) + 2-5,000(Misc).
Certificate of deposit is not enough, should be a bank statement of 3 months or so, also the fact that you are in US but bank is in another country is highly suspect, should have kept the money with you and submitted US bank statement.

Also look at the paper based application for US, it has a list of required documents you need to provide.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/student.asp

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO IMM 5483
(Document Checklist for a Study Permit)
Document Checklist for a Study Permit (IMM 5483), duly completed and to be submitted
with your application.
Application for Study Permit made Outside of Canada (IMM 1294): it must be
completed on a computer, validated to generate a barcode and printed in black and white
using a laser printer and high quality paper. Failure to include this page of barcodes will
delay the processing of your application.

You must also provide an email address at which we can contact you. Failure to provide an
email address will result in delay and possible refusal of your application.
Note: If you have answered “yes” to any of the background information questions 3 to 6 on
the application form, you must provide a completed and signed Schedule 1 form
(Application for Temporary Resident Visa – IMM 5257B) and include it with your
application. If you are currently serving of have served in a military, security or police
organization, you must also attach an official résumé issued by your organization.
Family Information Form [IMM 5707], fully completed, dated and signed. You must
answer every question. If not applicable, write N/A.
If you are a minor of less than 18 years of age, you must submit a copy of the birth
registration bearing the name of both parents or a copy of custody documents for
the child, if only applicable, in addition to the a signed and notarized custodianship
declaration form (IMM 5646).
Valid passport from each person requiring a temporary resident visa. The validity of a visa
cannot go beyond the validity of the passport. Keep two photocopies of the ID page in case a
medical exam is required.
Include all cancelled or expired passports, if applicable.
If you are not in your country of citizenship, please provide proof of your current valid
legal status in the United States of America.
In addition to a copy of your letter of acceptance from the institution or university in
Canada, please include a study plan describing clearly and in detail your proposed studies
and related activities in Canada. Your study plan must include the following:
 the purpose of your studies;
 your overall educational goal and how this program will enhance your employment
opportunities in your country of residence or citizenship;
 your itinerary; and,
 the names and addresses of any persons and institutions that you will be visiting.
Proof of financial support – Provide your personal monthly or quarterly bank
statements for savings accounts, chequing accounts or term deposit certificates for
the past three months, which show sufficient economic solvency to support your study
plan. Do not provide print-outs of transactions
If you are not paying for your own trip – Also submit all the following additional
documents:
 A letter signed and dated from the person paying for your trip/studies, clearly
stating what expenses will be covered.
 Their personal monthly or quarterly bank statements for savings accounts,
chequing accounts or term deposit certificates for the past three months,
which show sufficient economic solvency to support the application.
 Evidence of their source of income, usually in the form of an employment letter;
it should indicate their position, period of employment, salary.
Evidence of relationship between this person and the applicant.

Additional documents required:
 Evidence of current activity in your current country of residence:
o For salaried workers: Provide an employment letter stating your position, period of employment, salary and exact dates of departure and return from your leave.
o For self-employed, contractors or business owners: Provide a copy of your contract(s), business registration and tax documents.
o For students who will resume studies after their program in Canada: Provide evidence of current enrolment, for instance a letter from the educational institution you are attending in your current country of residence and confirming the program of study, time required for the completion of the program, vacation period, registration and payment made to return to studies to this learning institution, etc.
o For students who have completed their studies: Provide evidence of the completion of your studies, such as a diploma, certificate, etc.
 Confirmation of Up-Front Medical Examination: If you have completed a medical examination before submitting your application with a panel physician from the list available on the IRCC website, you must include a copy of the document that the doctor will give you confirming that you underwent a medical exam.
Note: Not all students applying for a Study Permit require a medical examination. For those requiring one, it is also not mandatory to complete a medical examination before submitting an application. However, doing so may result in faster processing.
If you do not undergo an up-front medical examination and you required to do so, you will receive instructions by email during the processing of your application. Please ensure you include an email address on your application form to expedite the process.
Also, please be informed that undergoing an up-front medical examination does not guarantee approval of your application, and that all costs for the medical examination are payable by the applicant and non-refundable.
You can find more information on the IRCC website, under "Medical exam requirements for temporary residents (visitors, students and workers)".

I really appreciate your prompt response. I don't keep a huge balance in my US account since I take out a fixed amount off my paycheck to invest. The balance is usually right under 10k usd. Do you think my US bank statement, albeit small, will be more beneficial than pay stubs and tax return documents? Or should I turn all of those in?

Also the same question, should I directly say in my SOP that I was rejected previously, and I will emphasize on the reason I was rejected for this time?

 

[bongoman]

I really appreciate your prompt response. I don't keep a huge balance in my US account since I take out a fixed amount off my paycheck to invest. The balance is usually right under 10k usd. Do you think my US bank statement, albeit small, will be more beneficial than pay stubs and tax return documents? Or should I turn all of those in?

Also the same question, should I directly say in my SOP that I was rejected previously, and I will emphasize on the reason I was rejected for this time?

I dont think a US account will be beneficial unless it has the required amount and shows normal in/out flows. If these investments can be shown I would show those as well.

You need to include the rejection in the application form background section so dont think you need to mention it anywhere else.

Read the requirements link there are documents required if you are an employee and also if you are not in your home country.

 

[har11]

I dont think a US account will be beneficial unless it has the required amount and shows normal in/out flows. If these investments can be shown I would show those as well.

You need to include the rejection in the application form background section so dont think you need to mention it anywhere else.

Read the requirements link there are documents required if you are an employee and also if you are not in your home country.

I requested for notes from cic already but it will take too long so I'm going to submit my reapplication without it.

I agree that my US account with under 10k balance won't be super beneficial especially with the fact that I transfer a decent amount of my income out every week.

The 60k CAD deposit should be enough to cover all the tuition and costs during my stay in Canada according to calculation, yet they still point out insufficient fund. Do you think providing the source of that fund will be helpful? I have it notarized already. And I plan to submit Employment verification letter, a year of pay stubs, and tax return. Do you think all of those will be enough to cover the certain about funding?

Thanks a lot!

 

[rg1993]

Hello Har11,

I am in a similar situation of your. It is just that I have a master's degree from US. I would like to know what happened after you had reapplied ? Did your VISA get approved the second time you applied ? Can you shed some light in this topic as I couldn't find much information. I really appreciate your help in advance !