Do you want to know How to Apply for Canada Student Visa? Have you considered choosing Canada as your study destination?
I have gone through it myself, and let me tell – while you may feel quite overwhelmed reading through the instructions, getting through step by step makes it a lot easier to handle. Allow me to break down step by step all that you require to know about acquiring your Canadian student visa.
Canadian Student VISA – Requirements
There are several documents that you are required to have before even applying for the program of your choice. First of all, you need to get a letter of acceptance from a DLI – it’s just a Canadian vernacular for a school that the government recognizes. Let me assure you that this is the best opportunity you’ve been waiting for!
You will also have to demonstrate your ability to pay for your learning as well. When I was applying for my visa I had to prove that I had enough money for my tuition, basic living expenses, and a return ticket to my home country. Today you need to provide about CAD 10,000 per year for your living cost if you are in smaller cities such as Montreal, Ottawa, etc., in addition to the cost of your tuition fees if you are choosing to study in Canada.
Other must-haves include:
- There should be a valid passport, be sure that it will not expire while studying.
- Recent passport-sized photos
- Fit as a fiddle (you may have to see a doctor)
- Criminal record check
- More evidence that you will leave Canada once your study is complete
- Please provide a brief narrative of why you would like to pursue studies in Canada.
How to Apply for a Canadian Student VISA
I still recall a time when I was clueless when I began my application, however, here is the step by step process to follow.
- Go to the website of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and sign up for an online profile. You may use GCKey or bank credentials – I preferred using the bank credentials.
- Complete the application form. Take your time with this one! Double-check everything. I also realized that it could help to minimize my exposure somewhat, by being more careful to check over my own mines.
- Pay the processing fee (approximately CAD 150) and biometrics fee of CAD 85. Make sure you don’t lose the receipts – on the next phase, you’ll need them.
- Go to a biometrics capture facility and avail yourself biometric capture. This means that they will record finger prints and your photographs. Oh don’t worry – you only have to do it once and it’s all very easy and doesn’t actually hurt at all!
- Upload all your documents. Pro tip: It is advisable that you arrange your submission into folders on your computer before attempting any upload process. Saved me tons of time!
If you are applying from some countries of the list, you may be required to give your biometrics in the Visa Application Centre.
How Long Does the Process Take?
This brings us to the third question; How long does the process take?
Here it is, the million dollar question! Based on my experience and friends who have used the services, the processing times could vary between 3-12 weeks. But always bear in mind that no two cases are similar. There are few variables that can influence the period aforementioned some of them are as follows.
- In which country are you applying from
- How busy the visa office is
- Whether your application is complete or not,
- How soon you deliver more documents if they are required
In my case, it took roughly 6 weeks; however, I’ve met individuals with their applications processed within 3 weeks, and others waited as long as 3 months. The secret is to start preparing early – You should start the process at least 3- 4 months before you want to study.
Conclusion
You may get overwhelmed when thinking about how possible it is to get a Canadian student visa but it is very easy if you know how to tackle it. The secret is to keep on top of things and to start early. Always look at your documents three times before you send them in – it is much better to spend one more day studying the papers than wait days due to the missing papers.
So, if you encounter any problems just remember – no worries! Some useful information might be found at the IRCC’s website and every school has an International Students Office to turn to. Having tried the whole process myself I would like to state that studying in Canada is well worth the effort required to get a visa. Thus, it can be stated that the education quality, multicultural environment of the country and the potential job opportunities make it an amazing place for international students.
I wish you the very best in your application. I hope your new Canadian experience is not far away.
