Hi forum!
Just reached Vancouver & still settling as its the 1st week! but thought of sharing something that I observed as soon as I came here! We all have been through so so so so so so so so much until we get Visa in hand & then there is a new story altogether ahead! Now, we all know that as per new rules we can start working off campus immediately. But, for that we need SIN number from 'Service Canada' which is a Government office located at many places throughout Canada. Now, SIN number is only issued if the study permit has either of these phrases below the Remarks section- " may accept employment" or " may work." Fortunately, my study permit had these phrases & I got my SIN number immediately when I visited Service Canada office afterwards. But in the orientation at UBC we came to know that half of them did not have these remarks on their study permit. ( Remark is at the bottom left of study permit). Same thing happened with my roommate.
SO here is something that incoming students should do to avoid some extra hassle. Because if the Remarks section is empty, then students have to upload their Admission Letter ( that states you are full time student & your course is more than 6 months) on CIC website, wait for their reply which is 2weeks, obtain a letter from them & then submit that Letter to Service Canada! Then you get your SIN! So here is what I suggest.
When we land, we are so eager to get through immigration & go ahead meet the friends or whoever is there to pick us up or just get to the new accommodation & relax. But If you are alert, you can save yourself from this IF AT ALL THIS HAPPENS with you. In my case, there were like 10 students in the CBSA ( Canada Border Service Agency) line where study permit is issued. So, I got the permit STAPLED to my VISA page & also, the remark regarding Work was there! However, what happened with many students was, when they landed, there were like 150 students ahead of them & only 2-4 CBSA officers to issue the permit! So here is where things go bit different! Just to clear things fast, these CBSA officers take a print of your study permit and RANDOMLY miss the remark section ( you get four hash instead of the phrases like this- ####. That's it) & just give it to you! They don't even staple it. And since we are also very tired due to Jetlag & lots of other things in mind, we don't pay attention, collect it & go ahead happily!
So in case this happens to you, just stay alert & ask your officer about the remark thing then and there If its blank. Don't be afraid to question back & ask for a permit that has remark of "may work" on it. ( provided you are full time & your course is of more that 6 months). Take printouts of this new rule from website of CIC & explain to CBSA officer how this remark's absence will create an extra hassle for you! Be polite to them & explain that your batch mates of same University or same course have got this remark then why not you.This might really help all you guys! ( But god forbid, this doesn't happen with you. It has happened with other people so I thought that this precaution might save 2 weeks for you guys!) All the best!
Just reached Vancouver & still settling as its the 1st week! but thought of sharing something that I observed as soon as I came here! We all have been through so so so so so so so so much until we get Visa in hand & then there is a new story altogether ahead! Now, we all know that as per new rules we can start working off campus immediately. But, for that we need SIN number from 'Service Canada' which is a Government office located at many places throughout Canada. Now, SIN number is only issued if the study permit has either of these phrases below the Remarks section- " may accept employment" or " may work." Fortunately, my study permit had these phrases & I got my SIN number immediately when I visited Service Canada office afterwards. But in the orientation at UBC we came to know that half of them did not have these remarks on their study permit. ( Remark is at the bottom left of study permit). Same thing happened with my roommate.
SO here is something that incoming students should do to avoid some extra hassle. Because if the Remarks section is empty, then students have to upload their Admission Letter ( that states you are full time student & your course is more than 6 months) on CIC website, wait for their reply which is 2weeks, obtain a letter from them & then submit that Letter to Service Canada! Then you get your SIN! So here is what I suggest.
When we land, we are so eager to get through immigration & go ahead meet the friends or whoever is there to pick us up or just get to the new accommodation & relax. But If you are alert, you can save yourself from this IF AT ALL THIS HAPPENS with you. In my case, there were like 10 students in the CBSA ( Canada Border Service Agency) line where study permit is issued. So, I got the permit STAPLED to my VISA page & also, the remark regarding Work was there! However, what happened with many students was, when they landed, there were like 150 students ahead of them & only 2-4 CBSA officers to issue the permit! So here is where things go bit different! Just to clear things fast, these CBSA officers take a print of your study permit and RANDOMLY miss the remark section ( you get four hash instead of the phrases like this- ####. That's it) & just give it to you! They don't even staple it. And since we are also very tired due to Jetlag & lots of other things in mind, we don't pay attention, collect it & go ahead happily!
So in case this happens to you, just stay alert & ask your officer about the remark thing then and there If its blank. Don't be afraid to question back & ask for a permit that has remark of "may work" on it. ( provided you are full time & your course is of more that 6 months). Take printouts of this new rule from website of CIC & explain to CBSA officer how this remark's absence will create an extra hassle for you! Be polite to them & explain that your batch mates of same University or same course have got this remark then why not you.This might really help all you guys! ( But god forbid, this doesn't happen with you. It has happened with other people so I thought that this precaution might save 2 weeks for you guys!) All the best!
Checked this post after a long time.