Canadian Immigration: Converting from ‘Visitor’ to ‘Student’

No matter you can finance yourself regarding tuition fee, accommodation dues and health facilities etc., but if your Canadian immigration is a result of a visitor’s visa, you cannot renew it to a student visa.

How to Apply for Canadian Immigration through a Study Permit?

According to the policies at Case Processing Centre (CPC) Vegreville, a study permit application cannot be processed from within Canada.

In a few noted cases, some foreigners may submit an inland study permit application. These are:

• Visa holders and family members of a valid work or study permit
• Visa holders and family members of temporary resident permits (TRPs) , valid for a minimum of 6 months
• Individuals with approved-in-principle for permanent residence as live-in-caregivers, spouses and common law partners, protected persons and humanitarian applicants
• Individuals subject to unenforceable removal orders etc.

All other willing students need to apply outside of Canada for a study permit. Successful candidates further need to be admitted at a Canadian port-of-entry, as students.

Alert: Converting a Canadian visitor visa to a student visa is not possible!

Renewal application can be submitted from within Canada. Moreover, if you have submitted your renewal application in due time and you comply with all the terms and conditions and have a good standing at the educational institution, then you may continue your study after the expiration of study permit.

In such case, you still have to comply with the terms of your expired permit.

The study permit application form has a column stating whether you are applying for ‘An initial study permit’ or ‘An extended study permit’.  This may be a cause of confusion when applying for the extension of your visitor’s status. Don’t panic, this column is aimed only for candidates exempted from applying from outside of Canada.

Why conversion of visitor’s visa to study permit is prohibited from within Canada?

The logic provided by Canadian authorities is that it is easier for the officers at foreign Canadian visa posts to assess such applications since they are living in that region. The main reason provided is ‘program integrity’.

But whatever the logic be, if you are applying for Canadian immigration, it is better to follow the guidelines, regulations and policies rather than logic. This will make your Canadian immigration process smoother.