Applying for Study Permit WHILE in Canada

[rach3rd]

Hello there,

I'm currently in Canada visiting (without a visa) and am looking to study here in the future.
My plans:
I'm looking to find a 6 month course from January - June, then apply for a Bachelors starting September 2011.

My main concern is, I want to apply while still in Canada and not have to go back to my home country to apply for visa (in my case, Paris).

Is that possible??

I would appreciate all of your sincere advice!!
thanks so much!!

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hello there,

I'm currently in Canada visiting (without a visa) and am looking to study here in the future.
My plans:
I'm looking to find a 6 month course from January - June, then apply for a Bachelors starting September 2011.

My main concern is, I want to apply while still in Canada and not have to go back to my home country to apply for visa (in my case, Paris).

Is that possible??

I would appreciate all of your sincere advice!!
thanks so much!!

Then apply by mail to Paris for a study permit. Note the requirements, acceptance letter, sufficient funds for the 1st Tuition and $10K for a years living expenses.

 

[rach3rd]

Hi PMM
thanks for your quick response!

I have read here that for a 6-month course, I wouldn't need a Study Permit but a Visitor's...? How would I apply for Study Permit for 2 different schools?
And so I mail my application and fees to Paris and they won't require an interview at the Embassy? Would I eventually need to mail my passport, or would I have to leave Canada (can I go to any country/) to get it stamped?

Thank you so much!!

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hi PMM
thanks for your quick response!

I have read here that for a 6-month course, I wouldn't need a Study Permit but a Visitor's...? How would I apply for Study Permit for 2 different schools?
And so I mail my application and fees to Paris and they won't require an interview at the Embassy? Would I eventually need to mail my passport, or would I have to leave Canada (can I go to any country/) to get it stamped?

Thank you so much!!

1. A course less than 6 months doesn't require a study permit, but you will need valid visitor status. You can apply for a study permit for a course of less than 6 months as it is your intention to register for a longer course after it is completed.
2. If an interview is required, it would be at Paris You can also apply to Buffalo, but with a caution, in that they not consider that you have ties to France. See: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/buffalo/imm/permit_study-etudes_permis.aspx?lang=eng#APPLNGUIDE
3. If a study permit letter is issued, you will have to exit Canada and re-enter to activate it.

 

[sgnv]

Hello there,

I'm currently in Canada visiting (without a visa) and am looking to study here in the future.
My plans:
I'm looking to find a 6 month course from January - June, then apply for a Bachelors starting September 2011.

My main concern is, I want to apply while still in Canada and not have to go back to my home country to apply for visa (in my case, Paris).

Is that possible??

I would appreciate all of your sincere advice!!
thanks so much!!

You have to apply outside Canada, you can do it through any Canadian Consulate/Embassy located in the US, in case you have to be interviewed.

 

[sgnv]

WHERE TO APPLY
If you are a citizen or permanent resident of the USA, you have the option of submitting your application upon your arrival at a Canadian Port-of-Entry (e.g., your airport of arrival or land crossing into Canada)

Persons lawfully admitted to the United States or Canada may submit Study Permit applications, either in person or by mail, at any of the six Canadian Visa Offices listed below:

Buffalo
Detroit
Los Angeles
New York
Seattle
Washington
It is advisable to choose the Visa Office nearest your current place of residence.

You may be required to attend an interview at the Visa Office where you submit your application.
(this infor I got it from the same link you got above from a different reply to your post, it's also available in the CIC website).

 

[sgnv]

1. A course less than 6 months doesn't require a study permit, but you will need valid visitor status. You can apply for a study permit for a course of less than 6 months as it is your intention to register for a longer course after it is completed.

Although, if you request a Study Permit for the course that last 6 months or less, there's a huge change of your application will be denied (it happened to me!), better yet, get a letter of acceptance from the school you want to apply for Bachelors and send it along with your Application for Study Permit, explain that you want to attend this institution and that's the reason you want to obtain a Study Permit.

I went to collegue for 2 years, F/T, and I had to do all this before I actually was able to attend school. At the end I got my permit and went to school, graduated and got the 3-year OWP afterwards. ;D

Good Luck!

 

[rach3rd]

Thanks sgnv for your detailed answers!!!

Unfortunately, I can't go to the US (long story) even for a short visit so that's not even an option.

So let's say, I find a school where I can immediately start a Bachelors in January. Can I mail the application while I'm here in Canada to Paris (but have my French address on the applications/envelopes) since it takes 1-2 months, and since I've lived in France and USA, I do not need a Medical exam I believe...And go back to Paris (sometime November/December), when they request an interview. Is the Interview Mandatory???

Because I'm trying to avoid going to Paris just to wait around for the file to get processed....when I could be here in Vancouver for a few months visiting.

 

[sgnv]

So let's say, I find a school where I can immediately start a Bachelors in January. Can I mail the application while I'm here in Canada to Paris (but have my French address on the applications/envelopes) since it takes 1-2 months, and since I've lived in France and USA, I do not need a Medical exam I believe...And go back to Paris (sometime November/December), when they request an interview. Is the Interview Mandatory???
Because I'm trying to avoid going to Paris just to wait around for the file to get processed....when I could be here in Vancouver for a few months visiting.

rach3rd:
honestly I have no idea how it works if you send your application from your address in France. All that I know is you have to send your application TO A CIC LOCATED OUTSIDE CANADA. You cannot send it to Vegreville or anywhere else in Canada, just call CIC and confirm this, better yet, contact the Canadian Embassy or Consulate located in France to see if you can send your application from Canada with your address in France.
An interview is not required, just in some particular cases.

Whereabouts in Canada are you located?

 

[rach3rd]

I'm in Vancouver right now..

Your response sounds very promising, unfortunately, alot of university don't let me start school in January, only May (summer term) or September.

So if I do a 6 month-study abroad thing, and you say I just need a Visitor's visa, when I apply for Visitor's visa do I mention that I'm doing a Study abroad?? Because the thing is I'm already going to be in Canada for 3 months (Sept-Dec) without visa, and then re-entering with a Visitor's visa in January, and I can't possibly still be 'visiting'.....But once I have a Visitor's visa, can I change the status to Study Permit without leaving Canada?

 

[sgnv]

I'm in Vancouver right now..

Your response sounds very promising, unfortunately, alot of university don't let me start school in January, only May (summer term) or September.

So if I do a 6 month-study abroad thing, and you say I just need a Visitor's visa, when I apply for Visitor's visa do I mention that I'm doing a Study abroad?? Because the thing is I'm already going to be in Canada for 3 months (Sept-Dec) without visa, and then re-entering with a Visitor's visa in January, and I can't possibly still be 'visiting'.....But once I have a Visitor's visa, can I change the status to Study Permit without leaving Canada?

If you are in Vancouver, try to send your application for study visa to the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle, BY MAIL.

check if you are elegible to send it to Seattle by emailing them and explaining your situation, they will assist you better and less confussion with whatever I'm posting or anyone else's postings,

Contact and Office Information:
Canadian Consulate General, Seattle
1501 4th Ave., Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98101
Tel. (206) 443-1777; Fax (206) 443-9662
email: seattle-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca

That's the way I did it to obtain my study permit back in 2005.

On the other hand, I'd suggest you to apply for the program you are planning to study here in Canada and get a letter of acceptance from the school (doesn't matter if the program starts 'til next Fall 2011), 'cause this is one of the requirements to obtain the Study Permit.