I already deferred to Jan21 because I haven’t received an answer.... my program Is 8 months + coop... I’m afraid if Jan21 and May21 Are online semesters and borders remain closed... I know it sounds freaky but as Covid is still in the air... everything is possible.... Moreover, My Medical exams will expire in Jan21 and I’m even thinking that as I deferred to Jan21 they can delay my file’s response (approval or refusal) Until December or Jan... who knows!
I was thinking to apply for a second program (also 1 year) before finishing my 1st program but I will be able to ask for permit extension if I’m IN Canada.... but if I’m outside Canada I will have to ask for a new study permit maximum in May21 for starting the new program in Sep21 and again the whole process... it would be better if I’m inside Canada by May21 at least.... to study my remaining 50% in Canada and to ask for a study permit extension....
Finally, maybe my best option will be continue deferring until borders reopen but it’s insane being waiting for more than 1year!
I totally agree with everything you've said... and no, it's not freaky...there are high chances that Covid will be there till a vaccine comes & if Canada is adamant on keeping borders closed till a vaccine is distributed across the world, then, I guess they'll shut us out till 2022 or something lol
I'm actually being realistic as that's how long it'll take for the vaccine to be distributed around the world as per news reports.
We can't simply pause our lives like this for 2 years. Canada has to understand that shutting the border to students who've already invested so much into their country is not a fair / just thing to do. They say online classes are "non-essential" and we should not come if classes are online. So that means we should wait till pandemic gets over to go there? That means 2022 lol.
Why can't they understand that life has to go on, whatever it is. We aren't asking them to open the borders fully. At least they should slowly allow those who've invested so much into their country & with visa approvals to go there phase by phase at least.
Instead, they have simply closed everything totally & banned foreign students from entering by putting up this most hypocritical "essential" purpose condition. This prevents even those with valid visas before March 18th from going to Canada now.
Everyday, "non-essential" travel into canada occurs from the US, by way of people driving across the border for all sorts of lame reasons including sight seeing. They should really start allowing foreign students inside, whose entire lives are getting destroyed now due to this "essential" travel purpose.