Entering Canada despite having online courses

[mickzster]

Hello,

I have been admitted at Concordia university in Quebec for the Winter 2021 semester.
The IRCC website Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): International students states that international students may enter Canada if they are taking either hybrid or on-campus courses. It also mentions on the same page that some exceptions can be made if there's a timezone difference or internet issues.

I live in Lebanon, there is a 7-hour difference between my country and Quebec. Lebanon also has one of the worst internet connections worldwide.
How can I guarantee my entry to Canada under these circumstances?
IRCC website says that my entry has to be backed up and explained to the border visa officers. What if the reasons mentioned above did not convince the officer?

 

[azzamkc]

You're reading in to the IRCC regulations before the recent update. In the link you put in your query, you need to read in to the following further down the page:
Travel exemptions and restrictions for international students
DLIs to reopen to international students
Starting October 20, 2020, DLIs with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by their province or territory will be able to reopen to international students who are currently outside Canada. A new list of DLIs with approved COVID-19 readiness plans will be available on or before this date.
If you plan to come to Canada as an international student on or after October 20, 2020, your DLI must be on the list of DLIs with approved COVID-19 readiness plans before you travel to Canada. This change will apply to all international students, whether you’re travelling from the United States or from any other country.
This change doesn’t affect study permit holders already in Canada.
If you’re already in Canada, you can continue studying at any DLI. If you leave Canada, you may not be able to return if your DLI doesn’t have a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by the province or territory in which you live.

Then click on this link and read through the page: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2020/10/update-on-travel-restriction-exemptions-for-international-students.html

 

[mickzster]

You're reading in to the IRCC regulations before the recent update. In the link you put in your query, you need to read in to the following further down the page:
Travel exemptions and restrictions for international students
DLIs to reopen to international students
Starting October 20, 2020, DLIs with a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by their province or territory will be able to reopen to international students who are currently outside Canada. A new list of DLIs with approved COVID-19 readiness plans will be available on or before this date.
If you plan to come to Canada as an international student on or after October 20, 2020, your DLI must be on the list of DLIs with approved COVID-19 readiness plans before you travel to Canada. This change will apply to all international students, whether you’re travelling from the United States or from any other country.
This change doesn’t affect study permit holders already in Canada.
If you’re already in Canada, you can continue studying at any DLI. If you leave Canada, you may not be able to return if your DLI doesn’t have a COVID-19 readiness plan approved by the province or territory in which you live.

Then click on this link and read through the page: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2020/10/update-on-travel-restriction-exemptions-for-international-students.html

Thank you for your reply.

I am aware of the October 20 readiness plan, however I thought that this plan is for the students that have on-campus courses; I don't think students with online courses will be affected. Either way, I'll be waiting for October 20 DLI list and I'll see what changes will be applied to the international student visa.

 

[azzamkc]

Thank you for your reply.

I am aware of the October 20 readiness plan, however I thought that this plan is for the students that have on-campus courses; I don't think students with online courses will be affected. Either way, I'll be waiting for October 20 DLI list and I'll see what changes will be applied to the international student visa.

This is the bit in the link I want you to read:

"The travel of asymptomatic international students who have the appropriate documents to enter Canada and whose DLI is on the list of institutions with approved COVID-19 readiness plans in place will be considered to be non-discretionary and non-optional, unless there is evidence that they are clearly coming to Canada for a discretionary or optional purpose, such as tourism"

Unless they consider online classes to be on par with tourism.

 

[mickzster]

This is the bit in the link I want you to read:

"The travel of asymptomatic international students who have the appropriate documents to enter Canada and whose DLI is on the list of institutions with approved COVID-19 readiness plans in place will be considered to be non-discretionary and non-optional, unless there is evidence that they are clearly coming to Canada for a discretionary or optional purpose, such as tourism"

Unless they consider online classes to be on par with tourism.

Okay great! Thanks again.

 

[azzamkc]

Okay great! Thanks again.

This is how I interpret it, I could be wrong or over simplifying my understanding. What do you think?

 

[mickzster]

This is how I interpret it, I could be wrong or over simplifying my understanding. What do you think?

After reading the following line: "unless there is evidence that they are clearly coming to Canada for a discretionary or optional purpose, such as tourism", your point made sense. Why would they reject someone entering Canada even if they are studying online? Of course they wouldn't consider studying online in Canada to be on par with tourism, that would be ridiculous in my opinion.

 

[azzamkc]

Did you get your Study Permit?

After reading the following line: "unless there is evidence that they are clearly coming to Canada for a discretionary or optional purpose, such as tourism", your point made sense. Why would they reject someone entering Canada even if they are studying online? Of course they wouldn't consider studying online in Canada to be on par with tourism, that would be ridiculous in my opinion.

?

 

[mickzster]

Did you get your Study Permit?

?

Not yet, I submitted all documents online and applied on October 8th, did my biometrics the following day on October 9th and now I am waiting for my approval. For some reason, before submitting, it said that the estimation for my country Lebanon is 3 weeks, but now it's 8 weeks.

What about you?

 

[azzamkc]

Not yet, I submitted all documents online and applied on October 8th, did my biometrics the following day on October 9th and now I am waiting for my approval. For some reason, before submitting, it said that the estimation for my country Lebanon is 3 weeks, but now it's 8 weeks.

What about you?

8 weeks is still very short in terms of processing time. In Oman it's been fluctuating from 18 wks, to 12 wks and now back up to 22 wks.

 

[mickzster]

8 weeks is still very short in terms of processing time. In Oman it's been fluctuating from 18 wks, to 12 wks and now back up to 22 wks.

Damn, that's really tough. Guess I shouldn't be complaining then.

 

[rijol verma]

It's crazy! When they say u cannot travel we ( students ) have a problem. Now when they are saying if your college is in the list u can travel ( again we have a problem)
Its simple
Complete visa + dli in the list = ✓ travel

Ps. 90% students don't have a full visa so they know not many r going to be traveling.

 

[Bishops2020]

Not yet, I submitted all documents online and applied on October 8th, did my biometrics the following day on October 9th and now I am waiting for my approval. For some reason, before submitting, it said that the estimation for my country Lebanon is 3 weeks, but now it's 8 weeks.

What about you?

Just to warn you, there are applicants who applied for study permits to go to Concordia back as far as January 2020 so 10 months ago who are still waiting. Ignore the estimated delivery times, virtually no study permit applicant since 18 March 2020 has had their permits officially approved, there could be about 100,000 currently waiting.

 

[Bishops2020]

8 weeks is still very short in terms of processing time. In Oman it's been fluctuating from 18 wks, to 12 wks and now back up to 22 wks.

There is probably not a single study permit approved to anyone applying from Oman since 18 March 2020 and that includes those who applied January 2020 so have been waiting already almost 10 months.

 

[azzamkc]

There is probably not a single study permit approved to anyone applying from Oman since 18 March 2020 and that includes those who applied January 2020 so have been waiting already almost 10 months.

Are you applying from Oman?