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The Canadian education system encompasses both publicly-funded
and private schools, from kindergarten through to university.
Even though Education is a provincial responsibility under the
Canadian constitution and there are significant differences
between the education systems of the different provinces but,
education standards across the Canada are uniformly high.
The
following are the various Canadian education institution types:
.
Universities
. University Colleges
. Community Colleges
. Career
. Language Schools
. Private Schools
. Public Schools
WHO
NEEDS TO APPLY
Most
people who wish to study at a university or college, or take
any course of academic, professional or vocational training
in Canada must apply for a study permit at visa offices abroad
before arriving in Canada.
Some
people may apply at a port of entry if they have a letter
of acceptance from a Canadian educational institution and
are
.
Nationals or permanent residents of the United
States;
.
Residents of Greenland or residents of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon;
or
.
People whose study permits have been approved
in writing by officers outside Canada but to whom the permits
have not been issued.
In
some cases, foreign nationals, including claimants for refugee
protection, may apply for study permits in Canada.
WHO
DOES NOT NEED TO APPLY
Canadian
citizens and permanent residents do not need a study permit
to study in Canada.
In
some cases, foreign nationals do not need a study permit to
study in Canada.
A
study permit is not required if the course or study program
lasts six months or less.
In
addition, the following people do not need a study permit:
.
Minor children in Canada attending pre-schools,
or primary or secondary schools, except for children accompanying
parents who are in Canada as visitors; and
.
Dependants of foreign nationals who are in
Canada on diplomatic, consular, official or certain other
duties for the United Nations or other intergovernmental bodies
of which Canada is a member.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS
You
must meet certain requirements when applying for study permits.
Officers look at many factors before deciding whether an applicant
qualifies for a study permit. People wishing to study in Canada
must
. Present a letter
of acceptance from the educational institution where they
intend to study; and
. Demonstrate that
they are able to
.
Pay the tuition fees for the course or program
of studies that they intend to pursue;
.
Financially support themselves and any family
members who are with them during their period of study;
.
Cover the transportation cost for themselves
and any family members to and from Canada; and
. Pass a CIC medical
examination, if required.
In
addition, you must satisfy the officer that
.
You are not inadmissible to Canada; and
.
You will leave Canada at the end of the period
that you are allowed to stay.
RENEWAL OF STUDY PERMITS
Foreign
students may renew their study permits. They can apply as
early as 90 days before, but no later than 90 days after their
permit expires. In addition, you must have observed all the
conditions of that permit and not be in breach of the Act.
If
your study permit expires and you did NOT renew it within
90 days of the expiry date, you can apply for a "Restoration
of Status". You may apply for restoration of status only
if you have respected all of the other conditions of your
permit. The application for restoration costs $200 plus $125
for the study permit. Please note that CIC cannot guarantee
that your student status will be restored. Therefore, check
the expiry date of your study permit, and make sure that you
apply for renewal before it expires.
CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATIONS
CIC
officers can refuse to issue study permits to people who have
previously studied or worked in Canada without authorization.
WHAT'S
NEW
No
permit required for short-term programs that are six months
or less Under the new Act, you can now study without
a permit if the duration of the course or study program is
less than six months, and will be completed within the period
authorized upon entry, which is normally six months.
Tougher consequences for violations Under the new Act, CIC
officers abroad can refuse to issue a study permit to someone
who has previously studied or worked in Canada without authorization.
The
Canadian education system encompasses both publicly-funded
and private schools, from kindergarten through to university.
Even though Education is a provincial responsibility under
the Canadian constitution and there are significant differences
between the education systems of the different provinces but,
education standards across the Canada are uniformly high.
The
following are the various Canadian education institution types:
.
Universities
. University Colleges
. Community Colleges
. Career
. Language Schools
. Private Schools
. Public Schools
Process
Depending
upon the type of institute you choose the processing period
varies. Usually the university admissions take more time in
processing for the admission.
For
the international students, once the prospective student gets
the letter of acceptance from the college then the student
has to pay the fee to the college and with the Letter of acceptance
and the fee receipt the student can approach the Canadian
consulate for the VISA and Student authorization. For the
courses which are less than 6 months, international students
may not require the Student Authorization.
Off-campus
work
The off-campus work program allows foreign students at public
post-secondary institutions to work off-campus while completing
their studies.
Off-campus
work is an option for students studying at institutions in
provinces that have signed agreements with CIC. These provinces
are as follows:
.
Manitoba
. New Brunswick
. Quebec. The census
metropolitan areas of Montréal and Québec are
currently excluded.
The agreement will soon be amended to include them.
As
new agreements are reached, more provinces and territories
will be added to the list. Watch the CIC Web site for updates.
Students
who come to Canada under the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship
and Fellowship Plan or under the Government of Canada Awards
Program funded by Foreign Affairs Canada or by the Canadian
International Development Agency are not eligible for off-campus
work.
Post-graduation
employment
As
of May 16, 2005, the post-graduation work program will allow
certain students to work for up to two years after their graduation.
Previously, students were only allowed to work for one year.
Foreign
students are eligible for a post-graduation work permit only
for employment in their field of study. They must still have
a valid study permit and apply for the work permit within
90 days of receiving written confirmation (transcript, letter,
etc.) from their institution indicating that they have met
the requirements of their program.
Once
students have one of these documents, they can apply for a
work permit. Post-graduation work permits are only available
to graduates of a program at a Canadian university, a community
college, a CEGEP, a publicly funded trade or technical school
or a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial
statute to confer degrees.
To
be eligible for a two-year work permit (rather than just a
one-year permit), foreign students must have
.
successfully completed a program of at least
two years of full-time studies;
. received written
confirmation (transcript, letter, etc.) from the educational
institution indicating that they have met the requirements
of the program of study;
. studied at and graduated
from an institution located outside of the Communauté
métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), the Greater
Toronto Area (GTA) or the Greater Vancouver Regional District
(GVRD);
Note:
If you complete your studies at a campus located inside the
CMM, the GTA or the GVRD,
but at an institution whose headquarters for that campus are
located outside those areas, you are not eligible for a two-year
work permit under this program.
. found employment
outside of the CMM, GTA
or GVRD.
Note:
Foreign students who graduate from an institution located
inside one of those areas are not eligible for a second year
of work, even if the employment is located outside of those
areas.
Foreign
students who currently hold a one-year post-graduation work
permit and who meet the eligibility criteria for a two-year
permit can apply for a one-year extension of their work permit.
Important Note: International
degree students and short-term exchange students holding a
Study Permit are permitted to work anywhere on campus without
requiring a Work Permit, however, a Social Insurance Number is
required.
To obtain a
Social Insurance Number, students will first need to find a
job on campus. Once hired, your supervisor will need to give
you a “Job Offer Letter” which will be put on the employers
letterhead and outlines the job you have been hired for, the
term of the position, and will be signed by both you and your
supervisor. A second template letter can also be obtainable
from the college which asks the
Human Resources Centre to rush your application so that you
can obtain your SIN card as soon as possible.
What you need to take with you
when applying for your Social Insurance Number:
Important information about work permits for students
Do
not work without being authorized to do so. If you do, you
will be in contravention of the law and may be asked to leave
Canada. Students who qualify for the new initiatives still
require a work permit, but they will be able to apply for
one without having to obtain a labour market opinion from
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. Students must
not begin to work until they have received their work permit.
Study
in Canada Questionnaire
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