Non-SDS from India while working in UAE

[EngAbijith]

Hi Friends,

I am an Indian citizen currently working in the UAE trying to get a student permit. After doing a bit of a research and from the replies I got from this forum I understood that I cannot apply under SDS category as I am not residing in India while visa lodging. Now, here comes my question. Will I be able apply under Non-SDS category from India while working in the UAE?

I heard that visa office in Abu Dhabi has a higher rejection rate and that's the reason I do not want to lodge my visa in the UAE. Please share your thoughts.

 

[RamSatt]

The Abu Dhabi office handles and processes applications from 8 countries (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan, UAE, and Yemen). IRCC officers are giving refugee applications from Afghanistan (and Ukraine) priority in the processing queue. Also, quite a few applicants from the Middle-East are expatriates from South Asia & South-East Asia who apply to study in Canada. They find it tough to explain ties to their home countries, and don't have permanent status in the middle-east. These factors could be among the reasons for the longer processing time, and possibly higher rejection rates.

That said, applying from the home country is always the best thing to do. The New Delhi office handles processing for India, Nepal, and Bhutan. But, it is common knowledge that the New Delhi office is facing processing delays too. Applications can take about 6 months easily. Be prepared for that.

You need to establish home ties to India. Even if you apply via Non-SDS from India, you've been living and working in the middle-east for "x" years. That will be a hurdle in your application, unless you explain you will return to India, and you establish ties and provide proof of that.

 

[EngAbijith]

The Abu Dhabi office handles and processes applications from 8 countries (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan, UAE, and Yemen). IRCC officers are giving refugee applications from Afghanistan (and Ukraine) priority in the processing queue. Also, quite a few applicants from the Middle-East are expatriates from South Asia & South-East Asia who apply to study in Canada. They find it tough to explain ties to their home countries, and don't have permanent status in the middle-east. These factors could be among the reasons for the longer processing time, and possibly higher rejection rates.

That said, applying from the home country is always the best thing to do. The New Delhi office handles processing for India, Nepal, and Bhutan. But, it is common knowledge that the New Delhi office is facing processing delays too. Applications can take about 6 months easily. Be prepared for that.

You need to establish home ties to India. Even if you apply via Non-SDS from India, you've been living and working in the middle-east for "x" years. That will be a hurdle in your application, unless you explain you will return to India, and you establish ties and provide proof of that.

Thanks for your reply. I will certainly try to apply from my home country as the acceptance rate from the UAE is very slim. Wonder what to write in the SOP to hurdle this situation.

 

[Geet7]

Thanks for your reply. I will certainly try to apply from my home country as the acceptance rate from the UAE is very slim. Wonder what to write in the SOP to hurdle this situation.

If I'm not mistaken, you must apply from your country of residence. It is not an option to choose between your country of residence or your country of birth. What some people with cases similar to yours have done, is move back to their birth country, establish ties like work for example, and then apply.

I could be wrong, maybe someone with more experience can give you their opinion.

 

[EngAbijith]

If I'm not mistaken, you must apply from your country of residence. It is not an option to choose between your country of residence or your country of birth. What some people with cases similar to yours have done, is move back to their birth country, establish ties like work for example, and then apply.

I could be wrong, maybe someone with more experience can give you their opinion.

Thank you for your opinion. I tried to go through all the pages related to student visa on the Canada government website. All I could find was that SDS is available to residents of a few countries. ( https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/study-permits/direct-stream.html ).
I did not find any pages that say you can or cannot apply from your home country if you are not residing there.

I am not sure why people are saying that you cannot apply from your home country even if it is the non-SDS category. If I am able to go to my home country for biometrics and medical I guess it would be fine. Well, the only way to be sure is to know from a person who had already done this.

 

[Geet7]

Thank you for your opinion. I tried to go through all the pages related to student visa on the Canada government website. All I could find was that SDS is available to residents of a few countries. ( https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/study-permits/direct-stream.html ).
I did not find any pages that say you can or cannot apply from your home country if you are not residing there.

I am not sure why people are saying that you cannot apply from your home country even if it is the non-SDS category. If I am able to go to my home country for biometrics and medical I guess it would be fine. Well, the only way to be sure is to know from a person who had already done this.

I think your confusion resides on your interpretation of the term "home country". As far as IRCC goes (again, based on everything I've read), your "home country" is your country of residence, not your country of birth. If you submit your application from your country of birth while you are residing in a third country, I think it not might go down well with IRCC.

My final advice is, dealing with IRCC is complicated enough as it is. You should try to keep your application as simple and clean as possible to avoid any issues with them. Good luck!

 

[Afroz436]

Hi Friends,

I am an Indian citizen currently working in the UAE trying to get a student permit. After doing a bit of a research and from the replies I got from this forum I understood that I cannot apply under SDS category as I am not residing in India while visa lodging. Now, here comes my question. Will I be able apply under Non-SDS category from India while working in the UAE?

I heard that visa office in Abu Dhabi has a higher rejection rate and that's the reason I do not want to lodge my visa in the UAE. Please share your thoughts.

Hi Abhi,

I'm working professional as well in Abu Dhabi, UAE. I got my college acceptance recently. I am looking into GIC with a non-SDS category to improve the visa approval chances. Do you mind to share your process or any suggestions here ?

 

[EngAbijith]

Hi Abhi,

I'm working professional as well in Abu Dhabi, UAE. I got my college acceptance recently. I am looking into GIC with a non-SDS category to improve the visa approval chances. Do you mind to share your process or any suggestions here ?

Hi,

I am also in your situation. Just received acceptance letter for September 2023 intake. Still I haven't figured out where to lodge my visa. Abu Dhabi visa office rejection rate is off the chart. I am still trying to find out if I can apply non SDS from India while working in the UAE.

@Geet7 please let me know from where did you get that information. Kindly share any official statements if there is any.

 

[Geet7]

Hi,

I am also in your situation. Just received acceptance letter for September 2023 intake. Still I haven't figured out where to lodge my visa. Abu Dhabi visa office rejection rate is off the chart. I am still trying to find out if I can apply non SDS from India while working in the UAE.

@Geet7 please let me know from where did you get that information. Kindly share any official statements if there is any.

I did a quick search and the only thing I found from IRCC is this:

When you are completing your online application, IRCC will ask you for your country of current residence:

Choose the correct information:

• The name of the country or territory you live in, if you have been lawfully admitted to that country or territory.
• Your immigration status in that country or territory (choose one of the following):
  • Citizen
  • Permanent resident
  • Visitor
  • Worker
  • Student
  • Other
  • Protected Person
  • Refugee Claimant

Then, IRCC will ask you if during the past 5 years, you have lived in another country for at least 6 months. Lastly, IRCC will ask you if you are applying from the country or territory you currently live in. If you say NO, you'll have to submit proof of your legal status in that country (citizen is one option):

Check the box to tell us if you are applying from the country or territory you live in.
If you checked “No”, choose the correct information:

• The name of the country or territory where you are applying from,
• Your immigration status in that country or territory by choosing one of the following:
  • Citizen
  • Permanent resident
  • Visitor
  • Worker
  • Student
  • Other
  • Protected Person
  • Refugee Claimant

So, I guess you "could" apply from a country different than the one you live in as long as you declare it and you have legal status in that country. However, at the end of the day, IRCC will know that your country of residence is different than your country of citizenship.

These are just my conclusions, maybe people with experience doing what you want to do can help you further...

 

[EngAbijith]

I did a quick search and the only thing I found from IRCC is this:

When you are completing your online application, IRCC will ask you for your country of current residence:

Choose the correct information:

• The name of the country or territory you live in, if you have been lawfully admitted to that country or territory.
• Your immigration status in that country or territory (choose one of the following):
  • Citizen
  • Permanent resident
  • Visitor
  • Worker
  • Student
  • Other
  • Protected Person
  • Refugee Claimant

Then, IRCC will ask you if you during the past 5 years you have lived in another country for at least 6 months. Lastly, IRCC will ask you if you are applying from the country or territory you currently live in. If you say NO, you'll have to submit proof of your legal status in that country (citizen is one option):

Check the box to tell us if you are applying from the country or territory you live in.
If you checked “No”, choose the correct information:

• The name of the country or territory where you are applying from,
• Your immigration status in that country or territory by choosing one of the following:
  • Citizen
  • Permanent resident
  • Visitor
  • Worker
  • Student
  • Other
  • Protected Person
  • Refugee Claimant

So, I guess you "could" apply from a country different than the one you live in as long as you declare it and you have legal status in that country. However, at the end of the day, IRCC will know that your country of residence is different than your country of citizenship.

These are just my conclusions, maybe people with experience doing what you want to do can help you further...

Wow. That's a whole lot of new information to me. Thanks a lot for sharing. I am also trying to find the best possible way to file my visa. Will share if I find something.

 

[Anaghaaa]

Hey! I am an Indian citizens, did my college from delhi 4 years and just came to Dubai to stay with my parents. Visa filed on Dec 24 , medical not updated. I filed for SDS category? Is it right? Or should I make any changes

 

[Ulfat Ali]

S

Wow. That's a whole lot of new information to me. Thanks a lot for sharing. I am also trying to find the best possible way to file my visa. Will share if I find something.

Hi EngAbijith,

I am also living and working in UAE and have got the LOA for July attempt now i am confused for lodging my file either from Pakistan or UAE as i cannot apply GIC from UAE Can you also help me please what you have done with your application?


Thanks in advance


Regards,
Ulfat

 

[ZZnew]

Dear All,

Please can anyone advise if making a GIC from UAE being a Pakistani national will make any difference to my application?

Also, was anyone successful in making GIC being Pakistani or Indian expat in the UAE?