Stay and Succeed: Extending Permits
Canada is a popular destination for international students, and many of them choose to extend their stay in the country after completing their studies. To do so, they need to apply for a study permit extension.
Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility
To be eligible for a study permit extension, you must meet certain criteria. Firstly, you must be currently enrolled in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. You must also have a valid study permit and be making satisfactory progress in your studies. Additionally, you must not have any criminal convictions or violate any immigration laws in Canada.
Step 2: Prepare Your Application
To extend your study permit, you need to prepare your application. Applying for an extension must be done online unless otherwise specified. Here are the documents you will need:
- Application form: Fill out the Application to Change Conditions, extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student (IMM 5709) form.
- Letter of Explanation: This is a letter explaining why you are applying for a study permit extension. You should include information about your academic progress, financial status, and any changes in your circumstances since your initial application.
- Proof of enrollment: You must provide a letter from your DLI confirming your current enrollment and the expected completion date of your program.
- Proof of finances: You need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your extended stay in Canada. You can do this by providing bank statements, a letter from your financial institution, or a scholarship or bursary award letter.
- Passport: Your passport must be valid and include any required visas or permits.
- Biometric information: You may need to provide biometric information, including fingerprints and a photograph.
Step 3: Submit Your Application
Once you have prepared your application and gathered all the necessary documents, you can submit it to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You can do this online or by mail. You will also need to pay the application fee, which is currently CAD 150.
Step 4: Wait for a Decision
After submitting your application, you will need to wait for a decision from IRCC. This can take several weeks or months, so it’s important to apply well in advance of your study permit expiry date. If your application is approved, you will receive a new study permit with a new expiry date.
Step 5: Extend Your Temporary Resident Visa (if applicable)
If your study permit extension is approved, you may also need to extend your Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) if it expires before your new study permit. You can do this at the same time as your study permit extension application. If you need to extend your TRV, you will need to pay an additional fee of CAD 100.
Restoring your status as a student
Sometimes circumstances arise that can cause a student to lose their status as a student in Canada. If you have lost your status as a student, don’t worry, as it is possible to restore it.
Step 1: Understand Why You Lost Your Status
Before you can restore your status as a student in Canada, you need to understand why you lost it.
If any of the following situations pertains to you, you lose your student status in Canada:
Some common reasons for losing status include failing to maintain full-time enrollment, failing to meet academic requirements, or failing to provide accurate information on your study permit application. Once you understand why you lost your status, you can take steps to address the issue.
Step 2: Apply for Restoration of Status
The first step in restoring your status as a student in Canada is to apply for restoration of status. To do this, you will need to fill out the Application to Restore Status as a Student (IMM 5709) form and submit it to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) along with the required documents. The required documents will vary depending on your specific situation but may include proof of enrollment in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada, proof of financial support, and a letter explaining why you lost your status and how you plan to meet the requirements in the future.
Step 3: Pay the Application Fee
When you submit your application for restoration of status, you will need to pay the application fee. The fee is currently CAD 350 which includes the fee for restoration and a new study permit.
Step 4: Wait for a Decision
After you have submitted your application and paid the fee, you will need to wait for a decision from IRCC. If your application is approved, you will receive a new study permit with a new expiry date. If your application is not approved, you may need to leave Canada and apply for a new study permit from your home country.
Step 5: Maintain Your Status
Once you have restored your status as a student in Canada, it’s important to maintain it. This means staying enrolled in a DLI and meeting all the requirements of your study permit. If you encounter any issues that could impact your status, such as failing a course or needing to take a leave of absence, it’s important to communicate with your DLI and IRCC to ensure that you stay in compliance with the rules.