Frequently Asked Questions
We highly recommend applying for the visa 5 to 6 months before the start of your classes. This is to avoid that due to embassy delays, your application is not processed on time and you miss the start of your classes. Please be aware that each embassy is different and they are usually very volatile with their processing times, in addition to having delays in their processes.
If, for example, your classes start in September, then you should ALREADY be applying for the visa in April or May. That is, by April or May you should already have the LOA, the money needed for tuition and living expenses, plus other supporting documents necessary for your application.
Other questions you may be interested in
The CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) is a tool used by the Canadian government to rank Express Entry candidates. It evaluates factors such as age, education, work experience, language and others. The higher your score, the more likely you are to receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Some study programs include mandatory work experience as part of their curriculum.
Therefore, if your program of study includes co-op (mandatory/mandatory), then you need to apply to your co-op along with your study permit application (many schools issue a letter supporting the issuance of a co-op permit to submit with your application). You must then apply to the CBSA officer when you enter Canada for your co-op permit, which is different from your study permit and which must be issued upon entry into Canada.
Remember that the co-op work permit is not the same as the authorization to work 20 hours off campus as the study permit. The co-op work permit is a separate work permit, it is not related to the authorization to work part-time in Canada.
Some common ways to improve your score include:
- Repeat the English test (IELTS or CELPIP) to improve your score.
- Obtain an educational evaluation of additional qualifications
- Obtain additional work experience or a job offer in Canada.
- Apply for a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which adds up to 600 points.
- Improving your level of French can also add extra points
An academic year in Canada consists of 8 months of study, normally when studying for 2 years or more the academic program has vacations, especially if the program starts in the beginning of classes in September, because they study all Fall, all winter, all spring and they have the whole summer vacation period and they enter again in September to the second academic year, for the other beginnings of classes that are January and May, normally they are fast track, that is to say, they do not have vacations. There are exceptions such as UCW, Camosun College, Lambton College, among others, that no matter the start of classes, they can always choose to have a vacation.
Translations for immigration purposes in Canada must be done by a qualified professional. The translator must have experience in both the source and target language (usually English or French). Some recognized authorities that can perform sworn translations are:
- Sworn translators accredited by a Canadian provincial or territorial regulatory body.
- Membership in a recognized translation association, such as the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO) or the Canadian Council of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters (CTTIC).
- Translation services authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- Translators from outside Canada who are accredited (officially recognized or authorized) in the country where the translation is being done. An affidavit must be included stating that the translation is an accurate version of the original text. The translator does so before a commissioner authorized to administer oaths in the country where he/she resides. The commissioner or notary public must be fluent in English or French in order to administer the oath.
- Notary publics or attorneys authorized to certify translations.