Urgent! Leave Canada while amendment of study permit in process?

[alice0731]

Hi, I sent my original study permit to OSC for an amendment several days ago. My study permit is valid until May 2016, so is my VRT.

I am travelling to US at the end of this month and I know it is barely possible to get my SP back before I leave, I called CIC and the agent said that what I can do is bring my photocopied study permit with me but it is up to the border to decide.

Anyone know if it is possible to enter US and re-enter Canada in this situation? What should I bring with me? Do I also need a proof from the university stating that I am a full-time student?

 

[Pures Toro]

Dear Friend,

Unfortunately, it is not advised to leave the country until you have your documentation in hand.

In your case, if you leave Canada, on your attempt to re-enter, they would deny you access with out the original in Hand. You cannot use the photocopy. Until and unless you have an Email from the CIC rep saying that it is okay to use the photocopy. The only options I see for you are either cancel you plan or Leave the country and ask some one to mail you the original study permit in the US and then attempt entering. That can take a long time.

The call is yours to make.

 

[alice0731]

Dear Friend,

Unfortunately, it is not advised to leave the country until you have your documentation in hand.

In your case, if you leave Canada, on your attempt to re-enter, they would deny you access with out the original in Hand. You cannot use the photocopy. Until and unless you have an Email from the CIC rep saying that it is okay to use the photocopy. The only options I see for you are either cancel you plan or Leave the country and ask some one to mail you the original study permit in the US and then attempt entering. That can take a long time.

The call is yours to make.

is it possible to ask OSC to return my study permit without processing it?

 

[Pures Toro]

Dear Friend,

You can try calling the CIC helpline. If they can do it, they will. As far as I know it takes the same time for them to send back the document with or with our processing the changes.

Call them and see if they can help you.

 

[Abbas1]

What did you do, I am in the same situation here
Can't cancel the plan so I have to go

 

[FahrenheitZR]

What did you do, I am in the same situation here
Can't cancel the plan so I have to go

I was in a similar situation last year. My study permit was gone for amendment and did not reach back in time for my flight abroad (out of Canada). So I left and before I could request CIC to deliver the amended study permit abroad, they already sent it back to my apartment in Canada and it was just sitting in the mailbox. I had no way to retrieve it and so I called CIC and was told that it was fine, as long as I had a photocopy of my original study permit.

Upon my return to Canada (without having my original study permit), I kept with me the photocopy of my study permit as well as proof that I sent it for amendment. At the port of Entry in Canada, I explained to the CBSA officer that I had sent my original for amendment and it hadn't come in time. He simply took the photocopy of my original study permit and entered the number on the system, and let me pass through.

Thanks to the electronic systems used by CIC, they can easily check whether your study permit is valid or not, and will let you pass without a hassle. So don't worry about it and just keep the photocopy and proof of amendment with you and all shall be good (assuming you have a valid TRV still and the date of your study permit is past the time you re-enter). Good luck.

 

[dof13]

How long did it take for you to receive your letter by mail? I am waiting it's been 3 months and I dunno if I can't wait any longer as I need to leave the country

 

[Abbas1]

I was in a similar situation last year. My study permit was gone for amendment and did not reach back in time for my flight abroad (out of Canada). So I left and before I could request CIC to deliver the amended study permit abroad, they already sent it back to my apartment in Canada and it was just sitting in the mailbox. I had no way to retrieve it and so I called CIC and was told that it was fine, as long as I had a photocopy of my original study permit.

Upon my return to Canada (without having my original study permit), I kept with me the photocopy of my study permit as well as proof that I sent it for amendment. At the port of Entry in Canada, I explained to the CBSA officer that I had sent my original for amendment and it hadn't come in time. He simply took the photocopy of my original study permit and entered the number on the system, and let me pass through.

Thanks to the electronic systems used by CIC, they can easily check whether your study permit is valid or not, and will let you pass without a hassle. So don't worry about it and just keep the photocopy and proof of amendment with you and all shall be good (assuming you have a valid TRV still and the date of your study permit is past the time you re-enter). Good luck.

You are completely right, I cross the border last week with only copy of study permit as those guys are taking forever to have my permit amendment.
now I am a bit worried about my flight back home in December, if this happened to you at the airport, might as well do the same, I really need to see my kids !

 

[FahrenheitZR]

How long did it take for you to receive your letter by mail? I am waiting it's been 3 months and I dunno if I can't wait any longer as I need to leave the country

That's an awful long wait for just amendment. I had to leave after 1 month of waiting, and surprisingly my amended study permit arrived just a week after I left lol. You need to call CIC and ask them what is going on with your process, amendment should be between 3 to 5 weeks.

 

[FahrenheitZR]

You are completely right, I cross the border last week with only copy of study permit as those guys are taking forever to have my permit amendment.
now I am a bit worried about my flight back home in December, if this happened to you at the airport, might as well do the same, I really need to see my kids !

Absolutely no need to worry, you should not face any problems whatsoever. Just remember to keep the photocopies of your submitted study permit (needs to be valid though) and any documents proving your permit submission for amendment. Aside from that, make sure you have a valid TRV on your entry back to Canada, should be breeze.

As a backup, you should leave your mailbox keys with a friend in case your amended permit arrives. They can then FedEx it to you during your break with the kids. Good Luck