Getting a Canadian student permit is one of the easier ways to enter Canada. We’ve found that this is the visa of choice for most people who cannot get a permanent resident or open work permit.
If you are young and genuinely want to study in Canada, you may be a great candidate for a student permit. However, most people who apply for this type of visa use it as an alternative to the two types of permits mentioned above. Before you start processing for a student visa, read the list below about some important points about it. This will ensure that you are making an informed decision when you go through with the process.
1) Most immigration consulting agencies recommend this path because of its high success rate
The student visa is arguably one of the easiest long-term permits to get. It allows you to stay in Canada for years and, unlike a visitors permit, you are allowed to work 20 hours per week.
Unlike the permanent resident and work permit, student permit holders may have the language proficiency requirement waived by the school. This means that you may be able to enter Canada without taking the IELTS. Take note, however, that you may still need to take the IELTS if you decide to apply for Permanent Residence.
Because of these factors, there is a significantly higher number of successful student visa applicants. With the higher success rate, immigration consulting agencies are likely to offer this path to their clients.
2) Courses are significantly more expensive for foreign students than citizens and permanent residents
The privilege of studying in Canada comes at a steep price. To start, the tuition fee for international students is significantly more expensive when compared to domestic students (work permits, PR Card holders, and citizens)
A college program that costs CAD$5,000 for domestic students may cost at least CAD$20,000 for International students. If you choose to take this path, you should be prepared to invest in your future in Canada.
3) Living as an international student in Canada will cost a lot of money
Aside from the tuition, you will need funds for your rent and living expenses. Rent in Ontario, for example, starts at $350 as I am writing this article. And that’s just a room in a house. Most of the time, that does not go with your own bathroom.
If you need an apartment unit with a bedroom and bath, you may be looking at a range of $1,200 to $2,500 per month, depending on the size of the unit and the number of rooms.
The living expenses in Canada vary depending on where your school is located. The taxes in Ontario and British Columbia make them expensive places to live in. In general, the IRCC suggests for students prepare at least $10,000 per year just for their living expenses.
Most people ask if getting a student visa is worth the money. It all boils down to your personal goal and the country where you come from. If you already have a comfortable life and a good-paying job in your home country, for example, you may want to stay there. You may also want to consider that you are not only paying for your own future but also the future of your children. By going to Canada, you are also investing in your children’s future.
4) Your student permit is temporary
You can only stay in Canada temporarily if you have a student permit. When it expires, you are no longer allowed to stay in Canada.
Because of this, you should always be aware of the validity date of your student permit. If you need to stay in Canada longer than you previously expected, you have to process an extension as soon as you are allowed to.
Many students arriving in Canada have been sent home because they did not know that their permits have expired. If you are looking for a more permanent arrangement, check first if you are eligible for permanent residence.
5)You cannot work full-time as a student
As a student, you are not expected to have enough time to work full time. You should have time for your classes and for studying. Because of this, you are only allowed a maximum of 20 hours of work per week.
In most cases, your salary from your part-time job will only be enough to cover your daily expenses. If you intend to work full-time in Canada, this may not be the best option for you, especially for parent applicants.
6) Finishing a course may increase your chance of becoming a permanent resident
A student visa does not guarantee that you will become a Permanent Resident. However, your Canadian education and the Canadian work experience you accumulate while working part-time as a student may give you additional CRS points. This may improve your chances against outland PR applicants.
Even with a student permit, however, you will still go through the same process that others are taking. This means that you will still need to take the IELTS if you choose to apply to become a permanent resident.
If the process of becoming a permanent resident proves to be too difficult, you also have the option to process an open work visa. The fact that you are already in Canada, you have Canadian work experience and your Canadian education gives you an edge.
I hope the information above helps in guiding you to making the right decision. If you do decide to apply for a student visa, be sure to take note of the common issues why applicants are usually denied a student visa. Review them and make sure that you cover all your bases when you apply:
Why are some people denied a student visa?
1) Lack of Funds
This is one of the most common reasons why student visa applicants are rejected. To be eligible to study in Canada, you will need to prove that you have the funds to support yourself.
First, you will need to pay for your tuition in Canada. As an international student, your tuition will be much higher than locals.
Next, you will need to provide your proof of funds. This is a document or a group of documents that will convince the visa officer that you will be self-sufficient when studying in Canada. The amount you will need will depend on the cost of living in the location of your school.
The IRCC recommends at least CAD$10,000/year for the personal expenses of the student. This does not include your rent and school fees.
2) Lack of the required documents
Aside from insufficient funds, this is the most common reason why some people are rejected in student permit applications. Either the applicant or their agency fails to send IRCC the documents they ask for. When the IRCC asks for documents, the applicant is usually given a deadline for submitting them. Many applicants miss the deadline for various reasons. One applicant in our group, for example, did not see the IRCC email asking for a letter of explanation. Because of this, their application was declined.
To avoid missing your deadlines, make sure that your requirements are ready even before you create your IRCC profile. In most cases, you will need your university diploma, your school records, the equivalent of police clearance in your country, and many other documents. For a list of the documents required by the IRCC for international students, click here.
3) Below standards language skills
Schools set a minimum score in IELTS or TOEFL to be admitted. If you are planning to get into a top school, you will have to do well in your language proficiency exam. If the school you want to go to has a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) and you don’t score high enough on your language proficiency test, the school will not give you an invitation.
You can avoid this issue by choosing a school that waives the IELTS requirements for international students. There are multiple universities and colleges around Canada that waive the CLB requirements for international students.