The Government of Canada has introduced amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations which will restrict which schools are eligible to have international students study at them. Effective January 1, 2014, the issuance of study permits will be limited to international students attending designated learning institutions. Currently, most provinces and territories have a mix of public… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Student Visa
Post-Graduate Work Permits in British Columbia
Lately, I have received numerous enquiries regarding which private post-secondary institutions are eligible to have their students receive Post-Graduate Work Permits (“PGWP“) in British Columbia. Coincidentally, on June 5, 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC“), issued Operational Bulletin 262 (“OB 262“), which addresses the issue. First, it is important to note the distinction between students enrolled… Continue Reading
Who Needs a Medical Exam to Study in Canada?
A couple days ago I received a question regarding whether someone who is a Hong Kong national needs a medical exam to study in Canada. Foreign students have the same medical requirements as those that apply to work or simply visit Canada. Generally, no medical examination is required for people who intend to visit Canada… Continue Reading
Custodianship
Many minors wish to reside temporarily in Canada. Their reasons for doing so range from making extended visits to the more common scenario of studying in Canada as an international student. In order to obtain a visitor visa or a study permit, minor applicants generally must supply two notarized declarations. The first is from the… Continue Reading
Competing for Foreign Students
The Economist this week has published an interesting article called Foreign University Students: Will they Still Come? While the focus of the article is Britain, the same conclusions that it reaches apply to Canada.… Continue Reading
Important Tip for Immigrating to Canada
One of the most complicated topics in immigration law is determining when procedural fairness will require an immigration officer who is assessing an application to seek clarification in the form of a fairness letter or interview. The breadth of procedural fairness must be adapted to the context in which it arises (Baker, SCC, 1999). When… Continue Reading
Student Partnership Program Expands to China : 中加學生合作計劃
The Canadian embassy in Beijing has expanded the Student Partnership Program originally launched in India to China. The program creates a special processing channel at the Beijing visa office for students destined to member institutions of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, whose membership includes Camosun College, Douglas College, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and Vancouver Community… Continue Reading
Post-Graduation Work Permit Program Rules
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (“PGWPP“) allows students who have graduated from most Canadian public post-secondary institutions to stay and work in Canada upon graduation. As someone who remembers the frustration of international students who had to leave Canada upon graduating even though they would have jumped at the opportunity to stay, work, and pay… Continue Reading