Hey guys, I'm an international student and I'm traveling on the 11th of August, 2021 to Toronto. My classes start on October 1, 2021. I'm going 51 days early for quarantine, looking for an apartment, getting to know the city, and settling down before my university starts. Is that okay or would the officer not let me in?
Arriving 51 Days Early
- Thread starter ali_121
- Start date
As a student, you can only enter Canada 4 weeks before your classes start at the most. You will surely be sent back. Lots of posts on FB last week alone from students being denied boarding cos they were travelling too early. There was even a lady from the UK who was 33 days away and they denied her and asked her to come back i 3 days.
How 3 days early when I have to quarantine for 14 days? And also many of my friends here in Dubai went 3/4 months earlier and nothing happened. Can you send me links to the FB posts saying they were denied entry for arriving to early?
She meant (33 days before Sem start) - (3 days) = 30 days before Sem Start.
You can try what your friends did. But IRCC recommends 4 weeks. It's all upto you.
Short answer is that it is not OK.
We've seen several people refused boarding by the airline for trying to come too early. Best option is to change your plans to arrive no more than 4 weeks early. If you move ahead with your current plans to fly 51 days early, you need to be prepared for the possibility that you'll be refused boarding and won't be able to fly to Canada or that you may have issues with CBSA once you arrive.
Just pointing out the pink elephant in the room... Although many of your friends were able to come here a few months early, you still doubt if that is really feasible, is that correct?
You have two choices: follow your friends’ way or follow the suggestion from this thread. Choice is entirely up to you. Weigh each option carefully and do whatever you think is best for you. For me, I will not risk coming in early. But that’s me.
I traveled 1 month and 2 days before my online induction, my in-person attendance is still 6 weeks away. The only time I got asked about my program start date was at London Heathrow, no questions were asked about the same at Toronto airport. My advice, only travel close to your program start date, there is nothing much to do here apart from sit inside and pass the time.
