IMPORTANT REMINDERS
- It is best to renew your documents in Canada before you travel.
- Make sure to check the expiry dates of your passport, Study Permit and your Temporary Resident Visa (to re-enter Canada), if applicable.
- Immigration documents will not be issued beyond the expiry date of your passport. A Study Permit must be extended before applying for a TRV. This process can take up to 4 months.
STUDY PERMIT
Please note: According to
strict CIC regulations, a student with a valid secondary Study Permit for high
school studies in Canada, cannot attend post-secondary institutions (colleges
or universities) without applying for a change of conditions on your study
permit. You must have a valid
post-secondary study permit before the first day of planned studies. You can request a post-secondary study permit
on-line or by paper application, refer to the links and instructions below for
more details.
If you are applying for a study permit for the first time please refer
to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study.asp
Please be sure to read all the instructions carefully. If you need
guidance please e-mail: intlsupport@georgebrown.ca
Study Permit Requirements
International Students must have valid documents to be able to stay and study in Canada.
- Students who study for a course or full-time program of 6 months or less only require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Visitor Visa. The course or program must be completed within 6 months.
- Students who study for more than 6 months or who plan to study a Post-Secondary program at George Brown College are required to have a Study Permit (Visa).
- Your Temporary Resident Visa/Visitor Visa may have been stamped directly in your passport or it may have been given in the form of a document stapled to your passport.
- Students from some countries may only be required to have a Study Permit while students who are citizens of some countries are required to have both a Study Permit and a Temporary Resident Visa/ Visitor Visa.
- Your Passport and Study Permit must be valid at all times. Check your Study Permit’s expiry date and apply to Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) at least 60 days before it expires if you need to extend your stay in Canada .
- If your study permit expires (and you have not applied for an extension), you will be required to stop studying. There will be no refund of tuition fees.
- If you submitted your Study Permit extension application but your Study Permit expires before you receive your new Study Permit, you have implied status and can still continue to study while waiting for a response.
- If you submitted a Study Permit extension application and you leave Canada before receiving an answer, your application for extension will be considered by CIC to have been abandoned and your extension denied.
How to extend your Study Permit
Study Permits can be extended by a) Sending an application electronically online to CIC or b) Mailing an application with supporting documents to CIC Vegreville, Alberta.
a.) Sending an electronic/online application for Study Permit extension
Visit the link http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/e-services/study.asp for information on how to apply for your Study Permit extension online.
Please Note: If your address changes at any time make sure that you visit the Citizenship & Immigration Canada website: http://www.cic.gc.ca and inform them of a change of address at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/change-address.asp
b.) Sending an application for Study Permit extension by mail
Step 1
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Get an application package
• Call Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) toll-free at 1-888-242-2100 between 8:30 am and 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday to speak to an agent and request an Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student (Form IMM 5709) and Fees Receipt (Form IMM 5401);
OR
• Go to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/extend-student.asp and download the Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student (Form IMM5709). Please note you cannot download the Fees Receipt Form IMM 5401 but you can request it by calling CIC at 1-888-242-2100 or by going to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/index.asp
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Step 2
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Attach one of the following documents:
• A Certification Letter (School Letter) from the George Brown College International Centre. The Certification Letter Request Form is available at the Centre or at http://www.georgebrown.ca/international/current_students/during_studies/certification_letter_form/
OR
• An Acceptance Letter from the International Centre if you have just been accepted to a full-time Post-secondary program at George Brown College.
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Step 3
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Go to your bank and get a letter that states your account balance and monthly financial statement for the last three months.
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Step 4
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Pay the application fee
A. Pay the $125 CDN Processing Fee at any Canadian Bank using the Fees Receipt Form IMM 5401 that comes with the Application Form:
• Complete the “Payer Information” section on the reverse side of Form IMM 5401.
• Pay the $125 processing fee and the bank will stamp the form and give you back 2 sections which you will attach to your completed application
OR
B. Pay online if you have a computer, internet access, printer and credit card (AMEX, VISA, MasterCard)
• Go to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/index.asp
• Print the CIC Official Receipt (Not the Confirmation Page) and complete the Payer Information Section and attach to your application
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Step 5
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Photocopy your passport pages and immigration documents:
• Passport page with your photo;
• Any passport pages that have been stamped at point of entry to Canada (every trip)
• Study Permit(Visa) and or Temporary Resident Visa/Visitor Visa
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Step 6
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Transcripts of your last two periods of study (if applicable)
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Step 7
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Review the Document Checklist (IMM 5555) that comes with the application kit or download from the website)
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Step 8
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Photocopy all the above and keep the copies in a safe place
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Step 9
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Mail your application with the required documents using a large envelope (9”x12”) to:
Citizenship and Immigration - Study Permit
Case Processing Centre
6212 - 55th Avenue, Unit 101
Vegreville AB
T9C 1X5 |
Write your name & address at the top left-hand corner of the envelope. At the Post-Office, have your envelope weighed.
• Send by Registered Mail.
• Keep the Post Office Receipt with your photocopies for tracking in case your documents are lost or misplaced by CIC.
If you move before you receive your new Study Permit, you must inform CIC of your new address at 1-888-242-2100
Please check the CIC website at www.cic.gc.ca for any changes in the above information.
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APPLYING FOR A TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA (TRV)
International Students must have valid documents to be able to stay and study in Canada. For instance, a valid Study Permit allows students to study in Canada. Students from many countries may also be required to have a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Visitor Visa to enter Canada in addition to the Study Permit requirement.
Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)/ Visitor Visa requirements
- Students who come to study for a full-time program that is 6 months or less in duration will only need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)(Visitor Visa).
- Students who study for more than 6 months, or who plan to study a Post-Secondary program at George Brown College require a Study Permit, or depending on the student’s country of citizenship, may be required to have both a Study Permit and TRV.
- The list of countries needing a TRV is available at the Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) website at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
- The list of countries exempted from the TRV requirement is available at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp#exemptions
- TRVs are usually issued with the Study Permit when a student first applies from their home country and stamped directly in the passport.
- A TRV must be valid to re-enter Canada.
- TRVs may be issued within Canada for students already in Canada with valid study permits.
- You may apply for single or multiple entry TRV.
How to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) within Canada
Students currently in Canada with a valid Study Permit must apply for the TRV to the Case Processing Pilot Office (CPP-O) in Ottawa.
Please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/canada/ottawa.asp for detailed information and to obtain the Instruction Guide (IMM 5256), TRV application form (IMM5257), Document Checklist - Applicants in Canada (IMM5721), Visa Application Photograph Specifications and other requirements.
Step 1
|
Get an application package
Go to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/canada/ottawa.asp and complete by typing the fillable form IMM5257 online (Handwritten form is not acceptable). You must
(1) Click on the “validate” button at the top or bottom of the IMM5257 form after completing the entire form to get the required 5th page with bar codes and a signature line
* All sections must be completed, you may put “Not applicable” where necessary. If you do not generate a 5th page, please go back as your application is incomplete. Check the red highlighted sections.
(2) Print, sign and date the IMM5257 form and
(3) Place the completed fillable page (Page 5 of 5 of the IMM5257) on the top of your application package
Warning: Only the Temporary Resident Visa Form IMM5257 is acceptable. Outdated and handwritten forms will not be processed. Your application will be returned.
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Step 2
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Attach one of the following documents:
• A Certification Letter (School Letter) from George Brown College’s International Centre. The Certification Letter Request form is available at the Centre or at
http://www.georgebrown.ca/international/current_students/during_studies/certification_letter_form/
OR
• An Acceptance Letter from the International Centre if you have just been accepted to a full-time Post-secondary program at George Brown College;
OR
• Your Post-Graduation Work Permit once you have completed your studies.
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Step 3
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Pay the application fees on the internet or at a bank:
Fee payment instructions are available at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visa.asp
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Step 4
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Valid Passport with at least one completely blank page other than the last page
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Step 5
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Attach a Photocopy of your valid Study Permit and TRV, or Post-graduation work permit (once you have completed your studies).
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Step 6
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Originals of your most recent School Transcripts
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Step 7
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Two photos (see specifications at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/photospecs-e.pdf)
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Step 8
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Document Checklist (comes with the application kit or download from website)
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Step 9
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Photocopy all the above and keep the copies in a safe place
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Step 10
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For mailing instructions, visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/cpp-o-apply.asp#step5
Return of Passport with the TRV: If you want your Passport returned by Canada Post’s National Xpresspost service, you must include a 24 x 32 cm prepaid National Xpresspost envelope available at any Canada Post outlets. Complete the mailing label showing your full mailing address in both the “Deliver To” and the “Return Address” fields.* Only prepaid Canada Post Premium (Xpresspost) mail service is accepted.
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Step 11
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Mail or courier your application Send your application by Canada Post’s Xpresspost with the required documents using a 24 x 32 cm National Xpresspost envelope to:
CPP-Ottawa
P.O. Box 9640
Ottawa, ON K1G 6T2 |
If by private courier, send to:
CPP-Ottawa
Temporary Resident Visa Section
365 Laurier Ave. West
Ottawa, ON K1A 1L1 |
CPP-O Contact Information: Fax: 613-946-6059 Email: CPP-CTP-OTTAWA-VRT@cic.gc.ca
Keep the Post Office Receipt with your photocopies for tracking in case your documents are lost or misplaced.
Please check the CIC website at www.cic.gc.ca for any updates or changes to the above information.
Help:
- CIC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100.
- Contact us at the International Centre and we’ll be happy to help out. (WILL LINK TO CONTACT PAGE)
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EXTENDING THE STAY OF A SPOUSE AND CHILDREN ONCE IN CANADA
If a family member wants to stay in Canada for the time you are a full-time registered student they can apply to CIC to extend their stay or change the conditions of their stay as soon as they arrive. Complete the following application to extend their stay as a visitor:
A spouse wishing to change their status from a visitor to a work permit completes the following applications:
INVITING A RELATIVE/FRIEND TO VISIT
A friend or family member may want to visit you during your stay in Canada. In most cases, the friend or relative will be required to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) in order to enter Canada. Follow these steps when you want to invite someone to visit:
- Write a Letter of Invitation: Citizenship and Immigration Canada has a guide for you to follow. This is only a guide – you must write the invitation yourself and your letter must be written in English. (In some cases the letter may need to be notarized).
- Request a Certificate Letter of enrolment from George Brown International. (This is optional.)
- Send the letters to your invited person. They must include the letters with their Temporary Resident Visa application to their local visa office.
For more information visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Website