[HELP] Study permit extension due to health and financial reasons

[sada0712]

I've been in Canada since 2011. I'm a Nigerian student currently pursuing visual arts, communication, media and film at the university of Windsor. I am about to apply for a study permit extension due to withdrawal from school for health reasons. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in October 2013 which rendered me immobile and disabled. I have a letter from the school health services confirming that scenario. In 2014 dec I was able to meet the rheumatologist after a year of diagnosis and a long wait list.

My parents were temporarily destitute at the time and were unable to register me for the winter 2015 course. This was due to a loss of the family business due to the BOKO HARAM attacks that escalated and negatively affected my father's ranch and his car wash business in Jos, Plateu State. My mother was also a victim of a bombing whereby out family church got bombed by Boko Haram insurgents, leaving her with minor but permanent scars.

UNAUTHORIZED WORK FROM DEC 2014 TO MAY 2015

I decided to use my off campus work permit to work from Dec 2014 to may 2015 and stopped the work after finding out that such work was unauthorized since it was not an OPEN work permit but just an off campus work permit. I am now currently enrolled full time. And have a part time job with my study permit expiring on December 21st. I also currently have a tentative job offer and was given a 50,000 CAD grant from the federal government of Nigeria due to my prowess in screenwriting and I am supposed to use that to obtain my degree from Windsor. I have 3 semesters to go.

I read that it would take 6 moths after the violation of statutes in the study permit to become admissible and the last violation I had was in may 2015 when the unauthorized work ended.

What are my chances of getting the study permit seeing as I have....

Financial backing and no longer temporarily destitute

Good standing academically with no failed courses.

A tentative offer of employment from my Home country which is incentive for me to leave Canada once my course is done

A letter from the doctor at the student health services confirming the timeline and progression of my disease.

Land valuation and familial ties to my home country.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[scylla]

It's too bad you worked illegally for six months. It's quite possible this may impact your study permit extension.

The only thing you can do is apply for the extension, include all of the supporting documents you have listed - and hope for the best. Don't try to hide the illegal work - it's going to be easy for CIC to find out about it. However you may want to add a letter to explain the illegal work (this might help or it might not).

Make sure you provide extensive evidence of your illness. I wouldn't just include the letter from the doctor at the student health services. I would also include a letter from the rheumatologist you are seeing now with informaiton about the seriousness of your condition, your treatment and the impact this has had on your ability to attend school. You'll need to explain why you were unable to attend school - but were able to work starting from December 2014. I assume you were put on some sort of medication that helped you in December? If so, that should be explained. I think something else you'll need to clearly explain is why you didn't start school again as of the January 2015, May 2015 or September 2015 semester.

The fact your unauthorized work ended in May 2015 doesn't help or protect you in any way. There is no six month rule. Whether your extension is approved is really up to the officer who reviews your file. If you didn't have the illegal work - I would say your chances of approval are good. But because you worked illegally and for so long - it's really hard to say what will happen. You very clearly violated the terms of your study permit. Usually this means an extension is going to be refused - however it's possible they may take your illness and family situation into consideration.

Again, really impossible for any of us to say. Good luck.

 

[scylla]

Sorry - I just realized that you probably started school again full time in September (it's not entirely clear from your email). If so, that's good.

 

[sada0712]

Thanks so much. Along with the letter from the school doctor ,I also have medical records and correspondence with the rheumatologist, I have also written a rather detailed explanation letter stating clearly my unauthorized work and highlighted that fact in the application as well. Here's to hoping for the best.

 

[scylla]

That's the most you can do. Good luck.

 

[sada0712]

Sorry - I just realized that you probably started school again full time in September (it's not entirely clear from your email). If so, that's good.

Yes. I am currently enrolled in full time studies and am on a current medication plan with the rheumatologist. I just hope that is proof of genuineness for me wanting to finish my degree and leave for the job waiting for me. Thanks for your help.

 

[sada0712]

I GOT THE EXTENSION. YEAH BUDDY!!!!