Two-stage assessment process for study permit applications
As a facilitation measure to support the fall 2020 intake of international students, the department is implementing a
temporary 2-stage assessment process in which applicants will receive a notification from IRCC once they have passed the preliminary eligibility assessment (stage 1 of the 2-stage process) but before they give their biometrics.
Applicants who have submitted their biometrics but have not completed their immigration medical examination or provided a police certificate will also benefit from this process.
The 2-stage assessment process for study permit applications only applies to initial study permit applications and does not apply to in-Canada study permit extension applications.
This temporary 2-stage assessment process for study permit applications intends to provide a certain degree of reassurance to international students who cannot provide all of the required documents or information needed to finalize the assessment of their study permit application.
There is no guarantee that the study permit application will be approved. For example, applicants who pass the preliminary eligibility assessment may still be refused based on eligibility reasons once biometrics are collected. Once services begin to resume, applicants who are able to submit missing information or documents previously requested of them will begin to do so, at which time the application will move into the second stage of processing and officers will process the application to finalization.
Eligibility for 2-stage assessment process
To be eligible for this 2-stage assessment process, applicants must have submitted a new study permit application electronically on or before
September 15, 2020, and their program of study must begin in the fall 2020 (or earlier). The applicant must also submit all the
documents needed in order for an officer to make a preliminary eligibility assessment. If the client is unable to provide any of the required documents, they will not be eligible to receive a preliminary eligibility assessment until they submit the information or documents requested of them (with the exception of biometrics, medical examinations and police certificates).
Applicants who receive a positive preliminary eligibility assessment will receive a letter in their MyAccount.