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Can student visa be used for tourism?

techiecsg

Full Member
Jul 24, 2015
29
0
Hello,

I have a student visa and permit valid until 1st July 2019. I transferred to a school in USA and have been studying there since January. Can I use my student visa to enter Canada as a tourist?

Do I have to get a separate tourist visa?
 

Jalex23

VIP Member
Apr 12, 2013
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techiecsg said:
Hello,

I have a student visa and permit valid until 1st July 2019. I transferred to a school in USA and have been studying there since January. Can I use my student visa to enter Canada as a tourist?

Do I have to get a separate tourist visa?
I will assume that by "student visa" you mean a TRV S-1... if so then the answer is yes.
 

charmainefrances

Hero Member
Oct 24, 2011
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St. Albert, Alberta
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CPC/VEGREVILLE TRANSFERRED TO CIC-EDMONTON
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Jalex23 said:
I will assume that by "student visa" you mean a TRV S-1... if so then the answer is yes.
But at the border, the Immigration officer would have to print a Student permit if you are holding an S-1 Visa.
The OP might be questioned..I don'k know...
 

Bs65

VIP Member
Mar 22, 2016
13,187
2,420
This has been answered here and given the OP is not meeting the terms of the study permit by not studying or being enrolled in Canada then cannot be used in place of a tourist visa.http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/can-student-visa-be-used-for-tourism-t446553.0.html
 

charmainefrances

Hero Member
Oct 24, 2011
885
106
St. Albert, Alberta
Visa Office......
CPC/VEGREVILLE TRANSFERRED TO CIC-EDMONTON
App. Filed.......
23-11-2010
File Transfer...
19-10-2011
Med's Request
12-10-2013
Med's Done....
23-10-2013 received by cic 31-10-2013
Interview........
12-09-2013 PASSED
Passport Req..
18-03-2014 PPR OF MY SON
VISA ISSUED...
10-06-2014
LANDED..........
June 24,2014 To God be the glory! PR CARD received: August 22, 2014 (exactly 60 days after landing)! Son's PR card arrived August 27, 2014 (exactly 65 days after landing)
Bs65 said:
This has been answered here and given the OP is not meeting the terms of the study permit by not studying or being enrolled in Canada then cannot be used in place of a tourist visa.http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/can-student-visa-be-used-for-tourism-t446553.0.html
That's what I thought! :)
 

Jalex23

VIP Member
Apr 12, 2013
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AOR Received.
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Med's Request
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Med's Done....
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Passport Req..
07-07-2014
VISA ISSUED...
14-07-2014
LANDED..........
06-09-2014
Bs65 said:
This has been answered here and given the OP is not meeting the terms of the study permit by not studying or being enrolled in Canada then cannot be used in place of a tourist visa.http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/can-student-visa-be-used-for-tourism-t446553.0.html
The thread mentions the study permit, not the TRV category S-1.

As stated Study permit cannot be used to reenter the country, TRVs category S-1 can.

(Try to not use "student visa" that only creates confusion between TRVs and Study permits).

charmainefrances said:
But at the border, the Immigration officer would have to print a Student permit if you are holding an S-1 Visa.
Uh? Where do you come up with that idea?

A study permit can be printed at the border, true, but you need to show your letter of enrollment and a letter from CIC stating the terms and conditions of the study permit you will be given.
 

charmainefrances

Hero Member
Oct 24, 2011
885
106
St. Albert, Alberta
Visa Office......
CPC/VEGREVILLE TRANSFERRED TO CIC-EDMONTON
App. Filed.......
23-11-2010
File Transfer...
19-10-2011
Med's Request
12-10-2013
Med's Done....
23-10-2013 received by cic 31-10-2013
Interview........
12-09-2013 PASSED
Passport Req..
18-03-2014 PPR OF MY SON
VISA ISSUED...
10-06-2014
LANDED..........
June 24,2014 To God be the glory! PR CARD received: August 22, 2014 (exactly 60 days after landing)! Son's PR card arrived August 27, 2014 (exactly 65 days after landing)
Jalex23 said:
The thread mentions the study permit, not the TRV category S-1.

As stated Study permit cannot be used to reenter the country, TRVs category S-1 can.

(Try to not use "student visa" that only creates confusion between TRVs and Study permits).

Uh? Where do you come up with that idea?

A study permit can be printed at the border, true, but you need to show your letter of enrollment and a letter from CIC stating the terms and conditions of the study permit you will be given.
Exactly my point... If the OP would enter Canada with the S-1 Visa without documentation that she/he is really going to study..then she/he might be questioned...
 

Jalex23

VIP Member
Apr 12, 2013
4,463
369
Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-Ottawa
NOC Code......
2171
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-09-2013
Doc's Request.
09-04-2014
AOR Received.
06-11-2013
Med's Request
05-04-2014
Med's Done....
20-05-2014
Passport Req..
07-07-2014
VISA ISSUED...
14-07-2014
LANDED..........
06-09-2014
charmainefrances said:
Exactly my point... If the OP would enter Canada with the S-1 Visa without documentation that she/he is really going to study..then she/he might be questioned...
We all are questioned on our entry to Canada, and of course they will ask why you have a S-1 if you are not studying... but stating you are no longer studying is more than enough.

The main thing in here is that you cannot request a new TRV if you have one that is valid. This is a common scenario when people change from student to worker, they still enter under their S-1 and only when the S-1 expires then their TRV will be changed to W-1. Basically the category states that you are eligible to stay as "worker" or "student" instead of only visitor (with max stay of the expiry date of your study/work permit)... if you fail to meet the requirements to be accepted as a student/worker then you will be accepted as a visitor (with a max stay of 6 months).
 

charmainefrances

Hero Member
Oct 24, 2011
885
106
St. Albert, Alberta
Visa Office......
CPC/VEGREVILLE TRANSFERRED TO CIC-EDMONTON
App. Filed.......
23-11-2010
File Transfer...
19-10-2011
Med's Request
12-10-2013
Med's Done....
23-10-2013 received by cic 31-10-2013
Interview........
12-09-2013 PASSED
Passport Req..
18-03-2014 PPR OF MY SON
VISA ISSUED...
10-06-2014
LANDED..........
June 24,2014 To God be the glory! PR CARD received: August 22, 2014 (exactly 60 days after landing)! Son's PR card arrived August 27, 2014 (exactly 65 days after landing)
techiecsg said:
So if I apply for a tourist visa now will it be rejected?
As what Jalex explained, your S-1 visa is valid. From what I understand you can use that for entering. They would probably reject your application since your visa is valid.
 

scorpio1641

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^actually the school might have already reported to CIC that OP has not been attending his classes since January, and as such, CIC might have already cancelled his temporary visa. I don't think he will be allowed to enter the country in any case.

Best for OP to check with CIC, but I think you will have to apply for a new tourist visa
 

Jalex23

VIP Member
Apr 12, 2013
4,463
369
Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-Ottawa
NOC Code......
2171
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-09-2013
Doc's Request.
09-04-2014
AOR Received.
06-11-2013
Med's Request
05-04-2014
Med's Done....
20-05-2014
Passport Req..
07-07-2014
VISA ISSUED...
14-07-2014
LANDED..........
06-09-2014
techiecsg said:
So if I apply for a tourist visa now will it be rejected?
Yes. You still have a valid TRV, it doesn't make sense to request another one.