Study Permit on conditional offer letter

[philozoic]

Greetings!

The university in Canada I've got accepted to is going to send me a conditional offer letter so that I can begin the international student visa application process. The letter is conditional because my alma mater, as well as the IELTS testing agency, have not sent the official documents to my university, and will take a few weeks, so my university wants me to apply for the visa on the conditional offer letter only.

I would really appreciate it if you can answer these questions of mine-

1. Will I be able to apply under the SDS? Or will I be required to show funds besides GIC (like in Non-SDS)?
2. Will I be able to work off-campus? The official website states that students having a conditional letter cannot work, however, my reason for getting the conditional letter is entirely different.
3. Does that affect the visa chances?

Thank you!

 

[Naturgrl]

Greetings!

The university in Canada I've got accepted to is going to send me a conditional offer letter so that I can begin the international student visa application process. The letter is conditional because my alma mater, as well as the IELTS testing agency, have not sent the official documents to my university, and will take a few weeks, so my university wants me to apply for the visa on the conditional offer letter only.

I would really appreciate it if you can answer these questions of mine-

1. Will I be able to apply under the SDS? Or will I be required to show funds besides GIC (like in Non-SDS)?
2. Will I be able to work off-campus? The official website states that students having a conditional letter cannot work, however, my reason for getting the conditional letter is entirely different.
3. Does that affect the visa chances?

Thank you!

1. You need IELTS for SDS. You need to show funds for SDS or non-SDS.
2. That is decided on entry into Canada.
3. Yes.

 

[philozoic]

1. You need IELTS for SDS. You need to show funds for SDS or non-SDS.
2. That is decided on entry into Canada.
3. Yes.

Hello,

Thank you for your reply.

I sat for the IELTS exam a few months ago, so it will be valid for another year or so. Regarding SDS, I guess I must have misunderstood the information because every visa advisor I have met has told me that only GIC is required to show "funds". No other liquid money or assets are required to be shown for the SDS stream.

Also, the conditional offer letter situation seems unavoidable to me. The documents will take weeks to be processed and my university wants me to start the visa filing as soon as possible so that I can come to Canada before my classes start.

Could you please suggest any way out of it?

 

[Naturgrl]

Hello,

Thank you for your reply.

I sat for the IELTS exam a few months ago, so it will be valid for another year or so. Regarding SDS, I guess I must have misunderstood the information because every visa advisor I have met has told me that only GIC is required to show "funds". No other liquid money or assets are required to be shown for the SDS stream.

Also, the conditional offer letter situation seems unavoidable to me. The documents will take weeks to be processed and my university wants me to start the visa filing as soon as possible so that I can come to Canada before my classes start.

Could you please suggest any way out of it?

You apply and see what happens. Pay any tuition or fees that you can with a conditional offer. Is this a Master or undergrad program? If so determine total costs and figure out if you have the funds to pay for it. Working 20 hours a week will cover (maybe) living expenses.

 

[philozoic]

You apply and see what happens. Pay any tuition or fees that you can with a conditional offer. Is this a Master or undergrad program? If so determine total costs and figure out if you have the funds to pay for it. Working 20 hours a week will cover (maybe) living expenses.

It is a master's program. Although I am getting funding from the university to cover my living expenses and have personal funds to cover the fees and GIC, I was worried if I'd have to arrange extra funds or property for visa application. However, that is not the biggest problem. My university has told me that if in case I do not come to Canada by the time my classes start, there's no online/remote study option. And since this university was one of the hardest to get into, I cannot miss the chance to study there.

 

[Naturgrl]

It is a master's program. Although I am getting funding from the university to cover my living expenses and have personal funds to cover the fees and GIC, I was worried if I'd have to arrange extra funds or property for visa application. However, that is not the biggest problem. My university has told me that if in case I do not come to Canada by the time my classes start, there's no online/remote study option. And since this university was one of the hardest to get into, I cannot miss the chance to study there.

You have a better chance of getting approval with a Masters. All you can do is wait. May I ask what school and program?

 

[philozoic]

You have a better chance of getting approval with a Masters. All you can do is wait. May I ask what school and program?

That's a relief.
Also, sorry, but I guess I should not disclose the school name and program name here publicly.

Thanks for all your answers!

 

[Naturgrl]

That's a relief.
Also, sorry, but I guess I should not disclose the school name and program name here publicly.

Thanks for all your answers!

Hopefully you get approved. You just said the hardest to get into so if for engineering/comp Sci then Waterloo. Top schools are U of T, Waterloo, McGill, UBC.

 

[philozoic]

Yeah. You're pretty close. Thanks btw

 

[Naturgrl]

Yeah. You're pretty close. Thanks btw

I think for a Masters from a top school with conditional offer, funds, strong SOP then you have a very good chance. Apply now because processing can take months. If you get unconditional offer and IELTs during the process then update your file with the letter through a webform. Do you have your IELTs completed? If not, when? VOs like to see that language requirements are met.

 

[philozoic]

Yes, I gave my IELTS exam last year so it is valid for a year or so and I had good scores in it. I was also thinking of starting the process with the conditional letter but I did not know we could update the files on the portal, so thanks a lot!