May 21, 2019 – Ottawa, ON – Changes to study permit regulations announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
In an effort to attract more international students to Canada, and to make it easier for those seeking higher education at Canadian institutions offering post-secondary academic programs, IRCC published on its website the following changes that were implemented to IRPA and IRPR (Immigration Act & Regulations):
1. Students changing educational level (primary to high school, high school to post-secondary college, or college to university) no longer need to change their study permit. They can use the same permit that was issued to them, as long as it is still valid. Al that is required is to complete a “Change of DLI”.
2. Study permits issued outside Canada for ESL or FSL Pathway students with a Conditional Letter of Acceptance (CLOA) for an academic program are now issued for the duration of the ESL or FSL program plus 1 year. Study permits for such students will no longer be issued for only the ESL or FSL Pathway program duration.
3. ESL or FSL Pathway students in Canada on visitor status studying without a study permit can now start their academic program (CLOA) once they complete their ESL or FSL prerequisite program and the initial study permit application is submitted to IRCC inside Canada. Such students no longer have to wait 8-10 weeks until their study permits are issued, and hence this eliminates the previous gap between the ESL or FSL program completion date and the start date of the academic program.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES THAT TOOK EFFECT AS OF MAY 2019
BEFORE APRIL 2019
AFTER MAY 2019
STUDENTS MUST OBTAIN A NEW STUDY PERMIT WHEN CHANGING EDUCATION LEVEL
STUDENTS CAN USE THE SAME STUDY PERMIT WHEN CHANGING EDUCATION LEVEL (CHANGE OF DLI)
STUDY PERMITS ARE ISSUED FOR THE DURATION OF THE ESL OR FSL PROGRAM ONLY
STUDY PERMITS ARE ISSUED FOR THE DURATION OF THE ESL OR FSL PROGRAM PLUS ONE YEAR
STUDENTS MUST WAIT 8-10 WEEKS UNTIL THEIR STUDY PERMITS ARE ISSUED
(GAP)
STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT 8-10 WEEKS UNTIL THEIR STUDY PERMITS ARE ISSUED
(NO GAP)
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Following is the extract from IRCC’s website that highlights the changes that were implemented:
1. “As of April 11, 2019, students transitioning between levels of study (primary, secondary and post-secondary) are no longer required to apply for a new study permit, provided their current study permit is still valid.”
2. “Some students must participate in a prerequisite English as a second language (ESL) or French as a second language (FSL) program before the start of the academic, professional or vocational program. Students in this situation are issued a study permit for the duration of the ESL or FSL program plus 1 year. The permit includes the condition that the holder is not permitted to engage in off-campus employment in Canada.”
3. “Foreign nationals who are in Canada as visitors and are authorized to apply for a study permit from within Canada under section R215 may begin their studies once they have submitted their study permit application, provided the application has been submitted before the expiry of their visitor status. They are required to cease studying if their study permit application is refused.”
For any questions or clarifications, feel free to contact any of our representatives in Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal.
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*Disclaimer: Encubate Inc. is authorized to offer immigration services under the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Encubate employs Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants who are members in good standing of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council and registered on the Registre québécois des consultants en immigration
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