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How early can a student come to Canade before classes start?

Rbwon

Newbie
Jun 23, 2016
4
0
Hello I am writing regarding my girlfriend. She is a Korean national and wishes to come to Canada to study in Calgary. She wishes to take a 2 year diploma course which begins in August 2017, and then settle in Canada after completing her program. We don't want to be apart until then, so we are hoping to get her into Canada in January 2017. Hopefully getting her PR application started so that we can pay for most of her program with domestic tuition.We have a few plans of how to accomplish this and I was wondering if anyone could share their thoughts and advice.

Option 1:
She applies to her program in August 2016 and receives her invitation a month or two later. Begins application with Visa centre for a Student Visa. Comes to Canada on her student Visa before her term starts (as early as she is allowed to). We get married and apply for her PR. After 3 months of the PR process she can receive a letter from CIC which she can send to her institution to qualify for domestic tuition (Her institution told me this is how it works). Eventually get PR and finish her program.

Option 2:
She applies to her program in August 2016 and receives her Letter of Invitation. In January she comes to Canada on a visitor visa (6 month visa exempt), we get married and apply for PR. When we have completed our end of the PR process, we will apply to either extend her visitor Visa or a student Visa. This is so she can remain in Canada legally while we wait for her PR application.

1. How early before their program begins can someone with a Student Visa enter Canada? We are hoping for 7 months before her program starts. Just to be together. She does not plan on working. Just self studying and getting used to living in Canada.
2. Is it better to come in on a student Visa or a Visitor Visa when applying for PR?
3. Would we encounter any problems with either of these approaches? Being transparent with the CIC about our plans for her PR application.
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,836
22,107
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
If she wants to come 7 months early - she should come as a visitor. That's far too early to arrive on a study permit and it's reasonable to expect there will be problems at the border.
 

Rbwon

Newbie
Jun 23, 2016
4
0
I have heard there are problems with people switching their visitor visa into a student visa. This is why we were worried about coming in as a visitor.

Thanks for your opinion!
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,836
22,107
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
Rbwon said:
I have heard there are problems with people switching their visitor visa into a student visa. This is why we were worried about coming in as a visitor.

Thanks for your opinion!
Sure - some people have challenges getting a study permit from within Canada. However if she comes to Canada seven months early on a study permit, there's quite a big chance she'll be turned around and sent home since the officer will be concerned about her true motives for coming to Canada.
 

Prayedup12

Full Member
Jan 4, 2023
34
11
I have heard there are problems with people switching their visitor visa into a student visa. This is why we were worried about coming in as a visitor.

Thanks for your opinion!
what happened? did she come as a visitor or student?