Will I get a study permit while on vacation in Canada?
Dear Ms Powell:
I’m a teacher and my husband has been a farm worker for a while, but he says he has difficulty getting permanent residence for us as a family. I plan to visit him again for the summer holiday. I want to check out some schools and the possibilities of getting a job when I am there. If I decide to stay, can I apply for a study and work permit while I am on vacation in Canada?
– HB
Dear HB:
While it is best to apply for a study permit before you depart from your home country. If you currently have a temporary resident or visitor’s visa, you may apply for a study permit while you are visiting in Canada, provided that your current permit is valid at the time of submitting your application. You must be careful not to allow the permit to expire before you apply. If your permit expires, you must make an application to rectify this or your application could be denied.
The application that you would need to submit while in Canada is known as ‘the Application to Change Conditions, Extend My Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student [IMM 5709)’. You will be required to submit the application form along with all supporting documents to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta.
One of the most important documents that you will need to have on hand to submit with your application is substantial proof of your ability to support yourself in school for the period of your studies. For example, proof of payment of tuition fee or the funds required for tuition fee, books, travelling and living expenses. If your spouse is going to undertake to pay your fees, then he will need to provide a letter of undertaking, a job letter and his bank statements.
Other supporting documents include copies of your birth certificate, passport, marriage certificate, certificate and transcripts from previous schools, and your Canadian visa. You should also get a police record just before you depart from Jamaica in order to avoid delays with the processing of your application.
APPLYING FOR SCHOOLS
If you would like to study at an educational institution in Canada, you will need to meet all of the normal requirements for studying in Canada. I recommend that you submit your application to the various schools that you are interested in from now, as the schools do have a cut-off time for accepting applications for the next term. You will need a letter of acceptance from the school before you submit your application to IRCC.
Once you have been granted a study permit, you are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the school term and full-time during the holidays. You do not need to submit a separate application for work permit with your application.
The key to remember is that work permit, study permit and visitor’s visa are temporary permits to enter Canada for a short period of time. Upon the expiry of those documents, you are expected to return to Jamaica. Therefore, the key is to show valid proof of your ability to afford the temporary trip and your genuine intention to return to Jamaica at the end of the time granted and, most importantly, demonstrate that you do not intend to break the immigration laws.
If you would like to become a permanent resident in Canada and to be able to add your family to the application, you must submit the relevant application to become a permanent resident within the specified time. For additional information about temporary or permanent residency, consult with an immigration lawyer to advise you of your options and how best to achieve your long-term goals for you and your family.