early application at border

[bstall17]

Hello!
I'm an American citizen and have already guaranteed acceptance to my university of choice. I would like to know, if I apply for my study permit at the Canadian border, how soon before school starts (2014) could I do this?
I am being housed by my significant other and would like to go to Canada ASAP, but am not sure I'd be allowed to wait for the school year earlier than the summer before.

 

[scylla]

A month or so before is about right. If you come much earlier, then you risk running into problems because they'll be concerned you're coming early to work illegally or something like that.

A while back there was an American here who tried to come three months early. He was turned back at the border and told to come back closer to the start of classes.

 

[bstall17]

Thank you

If I want to visit Canada earlier than a month before, would it be safer to apply for my permit online, receive it, then visit? Or should I show up at the border, visit, then return to the border a month before school starts and apply? I read about a man on here who did the latter.

 

[scylla]

I don't think it will make a difference. I think you could still face the same problem (being turned away) regardless of whether you apply ahead of time or at the border. But it all depends on the immigration officer you encounter when you enter, of course. One person might stop you and the next one might let you in. Really impossible to say what will happen...

 

[mead]

Hello!
I'm an American citizen and have already guaranteed acceptance to my university of choice. I would like to know, if I apply for my study permit at the Canadian border, how soon before school starts (2014) could I do this?
I am being housed by my significant other and would like to go to Canada ASAP, but am not sure I'd be allowed to wait for the school year earlier than the summer before.

u dont need a visa to enter canada right? u could stay for 90 days i think but not sure after which u can go back and enter again and apply for study permit.