Applying Study Permit within Canada during COVID 19?

[utojamepark]

Hi I am currently staying in Montreal on a visitor visa. I have been here for over a month now and kinda got stuck here because of the recent travel restrictions across the globe.
I've just received an offer for a master degree for sep 2020 intake (Quebec). So i am starting to investigate the possibility of obtaining the study permit without leaving the country at all.

I found this on the immigration website.

Only some people can apply for a study permit from inside Canada. Do any of the situations below describe you or the person you’re applying for? (required)
You’re currently in Canada and one of these applies:

• you have a valid study or work permit
• your spouse, common-law partner or parent has a valid study or work permit
• you’re a minor child in primary or secondary school
• you’re an exchange student or visiting student
• you completed a short-term course or study program required to be accepted at a DLI
• you or your spouse, common-law partner or dependent child has a temporary resident permit (TRP) valid for 6 months or more
• you’re being sponsored to immigrate and you already applied for permanent residence (if you’re eligible)
• you or your spouse, common-law partner or dependent child are subject to an unenforceable removal order
• you’re the spouse, common-law partner or dependent child of:
  • an athlete on a team based in Canada
  • a member of the media
  • a member of the clergy
  • military personnel on duty in Canada or
  • an accredited foreign representative

I don't think I meet any of the criteria above and does it mean I have absolutely no chance but to apply it overseas? The last thing I want to do right now is to take long distance air travel, it is just a bit risky you might contract the virus along the way. By the time it is relatively safe to take air travel home, I assume June at least? I am afraid it would be too late to start the application. On top of that, the current policy only allows international students who have obtained their permits before 18 March to enter Canada, so there is really no guarantee that I can return here by September. I am financially okay to stay here long term and I also have friends here who are willing to look after me just in case I run into trouble.

So taking all the factors into consideration, I am leaning toward the option of applying it within the country. Would writing an appeal letter explaining the my situation helps my visa application? Which visa application/study permit forms should I be using? The regular one for overseas applicant? or the one for onshore applicant?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ochenta8]

No study permit are issue inside the country because They need to issue your work permit at the port of entry. That’s the process. Until further notice you will have to apply from outside. However, right now there are no study permit in process because of the situation. Also because all institutions are closed to process every paperwork that they require.

 

[canuck78]

Hi I am currently staying in Montreal on a visitor visa. I have been here for over a month now and kinda got stuck here because of the recent travel restrictions across the globe.
I've just received an offer for a master degree for sep 2020 intake (Quebec). So i am starting to investigate the possibility of obtaining the study permit without leaving the country at all.

I found this on the immigration website.



I don't think I meet any of the criteria above and does it mean I have absolutely no chance but to apply it overseas? The last thing I want to do right now is to take long distance air travel, it is just a bit risky you might contract the virus along the way. By the time it is relatively safe to take air travel home, I assume June at least? I am afraid it would be too late to start the application. On top of that, the current policy only allows international students who have obtained their permits before 18 March to enter Canada, so there is really no guarantee that I can return here by September. I am financially okay to stay here long term and I also have friends here who are willing to look after me just in case I run into trouble.

So taking all the factors into consideration, I am leaning toward the option of applying it within the country. Would writing an appeal letter explaining the my situation helps my visa application? Which visa application/study permit forms should I be using? The regular one for overseas applicant? or the one for onshore applicant?

Thanks in advance.

You have through the US. There is no online application in Canada. This was the rules before covid.

 

[utojamepark]

No study permit are issue inside the country because They need to issue your work permit at the port of entry. That’s the process. Until further notice you will have to apply from outside. However, right now there are no study permit in process because of the situation. Also because all institutions are closed to process every paperwork that they require.

Thanks for the reply.
I was told that the procedure of applying study permit inland is the same as if you are applying from overseas, same application form and supporting documents, but you will need to leave the country and reenter in order to active and collect the permit at the border. so i can in theory apply it online or send it by mail to LA and then do a flagpoling at the border?

 

[utojamepark]

You have through the US. There is no online application in Canada. This was the rules before covid.

Strange, i consulted an agent and was told that I can apply it online as if I am applying from overseas with the exception that I will eventually need to do flagpoling at the CA/US border in order to active and collect the permit.
I also skimmed through some old posts on this forum most said that they mailed their application to LA but those posts are from before 2018, maybe a new policy allowing people to do it within the country?

thanks for the reply.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Strange, i consulted an agent and was told that I can apply it online as if I am applying from overseas with the exception that I will eventually need to do flagpoling at the CA/US border in order to active and collect the permit.
I also skimmed through some old posts on this forum most said that they mailed their application to LA but those posts are from before 2018, maybe a new policy allowing people to do it within the country?

thanks for the reply.

You are correct that you can apply online as if you were outside Canada and if approved, flapgole to activate the permit. However, CBSA has deemed flagpoling as non-essential right now.

 

[utojamepark]

You are correct that you can apply online as if you were outside Canada and if approved, flapgole to activate the permit. However, CBSA has deemed flagpoling as non-essential right now.

Thanks for the clarification.
I think by the time i have all the documents ready and have the permit granted the situation would be much better allowing people to travel freely.
If flagpoling continues to be considered non-essential even in 2 or 3 months time, there is a high chance that i won't be able to return Canada from a third country regardless of me having the permit or not.