Converting from visitor visa to student visa from inside Canada

[Cromium969]

Hi,

Am currently visiting some family in Canada and while on my visit I got interested in a program offered by a university here. I applied for admission and recently received an acceptance.

I am interested in converting this visitor visa to a Student visa and we need some assistance going forward with this process.

Background on me
1. Came on a visitor visa in May 2013
2. Current visitor visa is valid through May 2014 when my current passport expires
3. I have applied and received a new passport with a 10 year validity
4. I have applied and got accepted to my program from the post secondary institute
5. My session starts in Jan 2014
6. I need to be back in Pakistan this December for a family obligation and return in January for the start of my program
7. I have a valid US Visa as well
8. I am a Pakistani Citizen
9. I might need an extension on my current stay in canada since i will pass the 6 months in Mid Nov with out leaving. There was no stamp and validity date on my passport at the time of entry

We already have all the supporting documentation
1. Acceptance Letter
2. FInancial Support Statements
3. VAlid VIsa
4. Police Report
5. Medical (Have not done this because some requirements say he does not need it)


We are unclear about what application process is allowed to follow and all of them seem to have different processing timelines. I need to be able to get this approved by December and make my trip back. Options that seem to be a possibility are as follows

a. Apply with in Canada using the online process
b. Apply with in Canada using paper application
c. Apply outside Canada to LA consulate
d. Apply from back home in his home country consulate
e. We also need to get some direction on whether he needs to get my medical done

I need to apply ASAP and am really hoping to be able to get this done with out having to leave Canada so I can get the fastest possible processing time. I have to be back in December for a critical family obligation. All your responses and feedback are appreciated

 

[sabby2612]

Hi,

Am currently visiting some family in Canada and while on my visit I got interested in a program offered by a university here. I applied for admission and recently received an acceptance.

I am interested in converting this visitor visa to a Student visa and we need some assistance going forward with this process.

Background on me
1. Came on a visitor visa in May 2013
2. Current visitor visa is valid through May 2014 when my current passport expires
3. I have applied and received a new passport with a 10 year validity
4. I have applied and got accepted to my program from the post secondary institute
5. My session starts in Jan 2014
I don't think was a good idea as on tourist visa you can't study if the length of the program is more than 6 months
6. I need to be back in Pakistan this December for a family obligation and return in January for the start of my program
7. I have a valid US Visa as well

it has no relevence to your application to Canada, though if you have visited US, it can only help as good travel hisotry, otherwise no such impact of it on your application
8. I am a Pakistani Citizen
9. I might need an extension on my current stay in canada since i will pass the 6 months in Mid Nov with out leaving. There was no stamp and validity date on my passport at the time of entry

"you can seek extension of your stay as long as you have a valid visa, now twist here is you have a new passport now. Although your visa on the old passport stands valid as long as you carry both your passports. However as you have a new passport now, I wonder if you would need to apply for a new visa instead of extension because for extension you would need to present your passport and they will see it's cancelled passport. I am not really very sure about this part, but I suspect you may need to apply for a new TRV. But your TRV on old passport is valid till may 2014. double check on this.

you should check the passport again. Visa doesn't specify the validity. However at POE, IO updates the stay duration. Check for it"

We already have all the supporting documentation
1. Acceptance Letter
2. FInancial Support Statements
3. VAlid VIsa
4. Police Report
police report is not required for all the applicants. it's required when you deal with people directly, for example a program in teaching, medical practices etc

5. Medical (Have not done this because some requirements say he does not need it)
as far as i know about Paki applicants, CHC asks for it after submission of application, not while applying for it, any student from pakistan, please correct me if i am wrong.


We are unclear about what application process is allowed to follow and all of them seem to have different processing timelines. I need to be able to get this approved by December and make my trip back. Options that seem to be a possibility are as follows

a. Apply with in Canada using the online process
b. Apply with in Canada using paper application
c. Apply outside Canada to LA consulate
d. Apply from back home in his home country consulate
e. We also need to get some direction on whether he needs to get my medical done

I need to apply ASAP and am really hoping to be able to get this done with out having to leave Canada so I can get the fastest possible processing time. I have to be back in December for a critical family obligation. All your responses and feedback are appreciated

 

[mead]

even if u apply online u have to use application from outside canada for study permit. u cannot use application from within canada unless ur one of these cases...
"Who may apply for a study permit from within Canada?

The following persons may apply from within Canada:

Holders of valid work or study permits and their family members;
Holders of temporary resident permits (TRPs) valid for a minimum of six months and their family members;
Refugee claimants and persons subject to an unenforceable removal order;
In-Canada permanent resident applicants and their family members who are members of the following classes, determined eligible for permanent residents (PR) status:
live-in caregiver, spouse or common-law partner, protected persons, and humanitarian and compassionate considerations (H&C);
Persons whose study permits were authorized by a visa office abroad, where the permit was not issued at a port of entry;
Family members of athletes on a Canadian-based team, media representatives, members of the clergy, or military personnel assigned to Canada."
source : http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5552ETOC.asp#5552E2


u can either apply in US since u have US visa but then u will need US address for them to send ur passport to or ur home country but at some point u have to send them ur passport and that creates problems.

 

[sabby2612]

exactly...


happy thanks giving day buddy!!! hope you enjoyed some turkey...

Cheers!

 

[mead]

exactly...


happy thanks giving day buddy!!! hope you enjoyed some turkey...

Cheers!

thank and same to u ..well enjoyed chicken ..lol

 

[Cromium969]

even if u apply online u have to use application from outside canada for study permit. u cannot use application from within canada unless ur one of these cases...
"Who may apply for a study permit from within Canada?

The following persons may apply from within Canada:

Holders of valid work or study permits and their family members;
Holders of temporary resident permits (TRPs) valid for a minimum of six months and their family members;
Refugee claimants and persons subject to an unenforceable removal order;
In-Canada permanent resident applicants and their family members who are members of the following classes, determined eligible for permanent residents (PR) status:
live-in caregiver, spouse or common-law partner, protected persons, and humanitarian and compassionate considerations (H&C);
Persons whose study permits were authorized by a visa office abroad, where the permit was not issued at a port of entry;
Family members of athletes on a Canadian-based team, media representatives, members of the clergy, or military personnel assigned to Canada."
source :


u can either apply in US since u have US visa but then u will need US address for them to send ur passport to or ur home country but at some point u have to send them ur passport and that creates problems.

Thanks for the info on this, it seems pretty clear that I can not apply to an office with in Canada. I have a US Visa and I have family in LA so giving a US Address will not be an issue.

FOllow up QUestions:
1. Since I have my existing Canadian Visa (Valid through 2014 May)on my old passport (Also valid through 2014 May) I will be applying for my Study Permit with my new Passport (Valid for 10 years), how will that work. Will I need to file for a Visa extension or will I be applying for a new VIsa
2. Do i need to be physically out of Canada to apply for the extension and Study permit or can i apply for my visa from Toronto and mail in the documentation
3. If I send my new passport for the VIsa, I will be past the 6 months with in Canada in Mid November, will that be an issue since I have filed for extension / new Visa and student permit
4. What are the chances that I will need to travel to US for a interview and will they ask for my passport before they ask me to come in for an interview. I will need my passport to travel to the US

 

[mead]

FOllow up QUestions:
1. Since I have my existing Canadian Visa (Valid through 2014 May)on my old passport (Also valid through 2014 May) I will be applying for my Study Permit with my new Passport (Valid for 10 years), how will that work. Will I need to file for a Visa extension or will I be applying for a new VIsa
ur old visa will still be valid.....u always carry both passports. if and when they ask for apssport u should always send both old and new passport sometimes u can staple them together so u dont lose one.
2. Do i need to be physically out of Canada to apply for the extension and Study permit or can i apply for my visa from Toronto and mail in the documentation
visa application is not an extension but a fresh application. if ur mailing it i am not sure u can do it from anywhere however to receive it u need to be in the same country where u applied. again not sure this is a guess
3. If I send my new passport for the VIsa, I will be past the 6 months with in Canada in Mid November, will that be an issue since I have filed for extension / new Visa and student permit
u should plan to leave the country if ur visitors permit is expiring...if u stay in canada after ur visitors permit expires u will be illegal ..for getting study permit u need to leave and come back and at POE u will get study permit. technically ur not applying within canada so the assumption is ur outside canada. ur going to try to work the system . if u select ur within canada in the online form it will say ur not eligible . so the point is there is no link between ur visitors permit and study permit and u cannot be in canada on implied status
4. What are the chances that I will need to travel to US for a interview and will they ask for my passport before they ask me to come in for an interview. I will need my passport to travel to the US
well cant say if they ask for passport it is better u go to the country from where ur applying or ur home country as i get very nervous staying in foreign country without passport. In other words I dont know