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Transfer DLI before arrival, but after completing one semester online

hodari

Hero Member
Mar 28, 2018
702
230
Quebec
A friend of mine is in this situation. He got his study permit approved in December, and started studying remotely in January 2021.
After completing his first semester in April, he decided to transfer to a different college but similar program and duration.
He got accepted, and submitted the Transfer DLI form in his IRCC account.

But now he's worried that maybe that wasn't enough. Since he did not land in Canada yet, does he need to apply for a new study permit even if he already completed one semester?
 

Alexi01

Member
May 14, 2021
13
4
A friend of mine is in this situation. He got his study permit approved in December, and started studying remotely in January 2021.
After completing his first semester in April, he decided to transfer to a different college but similar program and duration.
He got accepted, and submitted the Transfer DLI form in his IRCC account.

But now he's worried that maybe that wasn't enough. Since he did not land in Canada yet, does he need to apply for a new study permit even if he already completed one semester?
Yup! According to the rules he have to apply for a new study permit.
 

Naturgrl

VIP Member
Apr 5, 2020
44,965
9,536
A friend of mine is in this situation. He got his study permit approved in December, and started studying remotely in January 2021.
After completing his first semester in April, he decided to transfer to a different college but similar program and duration.
He got accepted, and submitted the Transfer DLI form in his IRCC account.

But now he's worried that maybe that wasn't enough. Since he did not land in Canada yet, does he need to apply for a new study permit even if he already completed one semester?
He needs a new study permit since he changed DLIs and not in Canada.
 

hodari

Hero Member
Mar 28, 2018
702
230
Quebec
He needs a new study permit since he changed DLIs and not in Canada.
He need to apply for a new study permit. No way out of this.
Yup! According to the rules he have to apply for a new study permit.
He just called CIC and they said he submitted the Transfer DLI successfully and its updated in their system with the new college and he wont need to apply for a new permit. I know the people on the phones at CIC can sometimes be unreliable but since they confirmed the new DLI name on file he feels confident that it is indeed true.
 
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Simba112

VIP Member
Mar 25, 2021
4,479
1,663
He just called CIC and they said he submitted the Transfer DLI successfully and its updated in their system with the new college and he wont need to apply for a new permit. I know the people on the phones at CIC can sometimes be unreliable but since they confirmed the new DLI name on file he feels confident that it is indeed true.
Don't rely an agent over the phone, some can be misleading. your friend is not in Canada, and change DLI while out of Canada requires New Study Permit. there is no exception of completing semester online outside of Canada, not to my knowledge.
 

hodari

Hero Member
Mar 28, 2018
702
230
Quebec
Don't rely an agent over the phone, some can be misleading. your friend is not in Canada, and change DLI while out of Canada requires New Study Permit. there is no exception of completing semester online outside of Canada, not to my knowledge.
That's true, but the fact that they had his new DLI on file, and told him that his student permit approval was now tied to that new DLI - does that not hold any water?
 

Simba112

VIP Member
Mar 25, 2021
4,479
1,663
That's true, but the fact that they had his new DLI on file, and told him that his student permit approval was now tied to that new DLI - does that not hold any water?
From look of it, it may.. but when boarding a flight or attempting to enter Canada may not.....that will be up to Border officer to interpret the law...What everyone is trying to advice is to apply for new SP, and you can not change DLI without new SP from outside of Canada
 

wonderbly

VIP Member
Aug 26, 2020
3,875
3,087
He just called CIC and they said he submitted the Transfer DLI successfully and its updated in their system with the new college and he wont need to apply for a new permit. I know the people on the phones at CIC can sometimes be unreliable but since they confirmed the new DLI name on file he feels confident that it is indeed true.
Follow my posts in this thread: https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/actively-studying-in-new-dli-change-rule.733311/ and you will see how wishy-washy IRCC can be and how they give wrong info!

If your brother is still outside Canada, he should re-apply for SP. It would have been better if he waited to enter Canada before attempting to make the switch in his GCKey.
 

wonderbly

VIP Member
Aug 26, 2020
3,875
3,087
Yes I can see that. Another issue I was warned about is that CBSA agents do not always interpret the rules the same way IRCC does.
Yep, CBSA agents are the biggest problems in this case which is why it would have been better to change only once inside. Does your friend have written proof of confirmation from his conversation with CIC?
 

hodari

Hero Member
Mar 28, 2018
702
230
Quebec
Yep, CBSA agents are the biggest problems in this case which is why it would have been better to change only once inside. Does your friend have written proof of confirmation from his conversation with CIC?
No, he only spoke with them on the phone. He has sent them a case-specific enquiry with his 1st sem transcript, and his new LoA and asked them to confirm whether his previous student visa approval was still valid and updated with the new DLI or whether he would need to submit a new application. He will wait for their response.
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,605
13,529
That's true, but the fact that they had his new DLI on file, and told him that his student permit approval was now tied to that new DLI - does that not hold any water?
Would suggest sending a webform and getting confirmation in writing that he has been able to switch schools.
 
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