International Student Handbook: Immigration
It is your responsibility to understand Canadian immigration policy as it pertains to international students and to maintain your immigration status in Canada. Check your immigration documents (study permit, work permit and/or temporary resident visa) to ensure that they are accurate and valid for study at SFU and note when they need to be renewed. Your International Student Advisors are happy to assist you if you have any questions or concerns regarding your status. As immigration policy can change or be easily misinterpreted, you should not take immigration advice from friends or other unauthorized representatives.
This section provides basic information on frequently asked questions. However, it is not a legal document and this information is subject to change. For the most current and reliable information, please refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
Terminology
CATEGORIES OF RESIDENTS IN CANADA
Temporary Resident:
Holders of study permits, work permits or visitor records are all considered to be “Temporary Residents” in Canada. If you are reading this handbook, this is probably your category.
Permanent Resident or Landed Immigrant:
A permanent resident (landed immigrant) is someone who has immigrated to Canada under the skilled worker, Canadian experience class, business class, family class, provincial nominee or international adoption programs. Students with “PR” status are considered domestic students, not international students. Permanent residents who stay in Canada have many of the same rights as citizens but may not vote or hold a Canadian passport.
Citizen:
This includes people born in Canada or those who obtained Canadian citizenship through a specified Canadian-born family member. Permanent residents may apply for Canadian citizenship after a certain length of time living in Canada. Please note that International Student Advisors do not advise students on how to become permanent residents or citizens of Canada. If you are interested in this information, check the CIC website.
IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS
Study Permit:
A study permit (formerly known as a student authorization) is the piece of paper issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (usually stapled in your passport) that permits you to study in Canada and work on the campus in which you are enrolled as a full-time student. Anyone who is studying in a degree or diploma granting program that is longer than six months should have applied for an initial study permit prior to entering Canada. Spouses and common-law partners of people on a valid study permit or work permit may apply for an initial study permit in Canada.
Visitor Record:
If you did not obtain a study permit, you may have received a visitor record from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (probably stapled in your passport) or a stamp in your passport. This allows you to stay in Canada as a visitor for the duration specified and study in a program which is less than 6 months. Only exchange, visiting or ESL students here for one term or less are permitted to study at SFU on a visitor record.
Work Permit:
A work permit (formerly known as an employment authorization) looks very similar to a study permit and is issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Temporary Resident Visa:
A temporary resident visa (TRV or entry visa) is a sticker that is placed in your passport if you are a citizen of a country that requires a visa to visit Canada. This visa is either single- or multiple-entry. If this is a requirement for citizens of your country, a valid TRV must be shown along with a valid immigration document (study permit or work permit) in order to re-enter Canada.
Tips for Success
- Check the expiry date of your study permit—mark the date 90 days prior in your calendar to remind you to renew!
- Check the expiry date of your temporary resident (entry) visa, if applicable. If you are planning to travel outside of Canada and the continental US, check the processing times on the website of the visa office where you plan to apply to ensure you have enough time to get your paperwork processed. Plan ahead!
- Your CareCard (BC medical services plan) will also expire at the same time as your study permit. Make a note on your calendar to renew it when you get your new permit.
- Check the expiry date of your passport, too. If it will expire while you are in Canada, contact your consulate or embassy well in advance to find out how to extend it.
- Plan ahead — if you plan to travel or extend your study permit, you will need a valid passport. When leaving the country, be sure you travel with a letter from SFU showing your continuing status.
Extending or Changing Conditions on your Study Permit
It is your responsibility to ensure that your study permit remains valid during your studies in Canada. If you need to extend your study permit, you should apply 30 to 90 days in advance of expiration. Processing times are typically 4 to 12 weeks. As there have been long delays recently, we recommend applying 90 days in advance if possible. However, the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta will typically accept all complete applications as long as they are received before the expiration date of the study permit.
If you plan to travel abroad during a period when your study permit is about to expire, you should ensure that you renew your study permit from WITHIN Canada before you leave.
You may apply to extend your study permit and/or apply to extend your dependent family members’ immigration documents using one application form, but you will need to include individual processing fees for each requested document. If your passport is expiring, you will need to renew it before you apply to extend your study permit. You can find more information on how to apply for an extension of your study permit by reading our advising information sheet.
Applying for a New Temporary Resident (Entry) VISA
Planning a trip outside of Canada and the continental US? You will need a valid temporary resident visa (TRV) in addition to your valid study permit to re-enter Canada, unless you are from a country that is exempt from this requirement. If you are unsure, check the CIC website for a list of countries whose citizens need a visa to enter Canada to visit, study or work temporarily, as required by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. If you are exempt from this requirement, please disregard this section.
If you find that you do need a TRV and you are planning a trip outside of Canada, you will need to apply for a new TRV at a Canadian Consulate or Embassy outside of Canada. It is not possible to apply for one at a CIC office in Canada. You may choose to apply in your home country or in person at the Canadian Consulate in Seattle. If you are unable to enter the US, you may choose to apply by mail to the Canadian Consulate in Seattle. Processing times may be very lengthy at peak holiday times such as summer and Christmas, so allow yourself plenty of time or apply at home. Immigration officials reserve the right to interview applicants if necessary. You can find more information on how to apply for a new temporary resident visa by reading our TRV information sheet.
Bringing Family
SPOUSE OR COMMON-LAW PARTNER
If you are an international student on a valid study permit, you may invite your spouse, common-law partner or dependent children to join you for the duration of your studies. Canadian immigration policy regards an international student’s common-law partner in the same manner as a legal spouse. Citizenship and Immigration Canada defines common-law partners as people of the same or opposite sex who currently cohabitate and have cohabitated in a conjugal relationship of at least one year. Spouses and common-law partners should apply for a temporary resident visa (if applicable) to enter Canada as a visitor. After they arrive, they may apply for work permits, which will allow them to seek employment in Canada. No job offer is necessary when they apply, and the work permit allows part-time or full-time work. See an International Student Advisor for assistance.
DEPENDENT CHILDREN
School-age children (18 years of age or younger) who will be attending school in Canada should apply for study permits in advance as this can make the immigration process smoother at the port of entry, especially if the child is travelling without a parent. Generally, your spouse and children will be able to extend their immigration documents for the same duration as your authorized stay in Canada.
WHAT DO I NEED TO PREPARE?
To apply for your immediate family members to accompany you to Canada or to visit you in Canada, the following supporting documents are required:
- Current proof of enrollment from SFU.
- A detailed invitation letter from you.
- A copy of your valid study permit and passport.
- Letter(s) to prove sufficient funds (such as from a bank, employer, scholarship or fellowship provider).
- A copy of your marriage certificate (if married) or proof of common-law status (e.g. joint bank accounts or lease, etc.). If documents are not in English, you must have them officially translated and notarized.
Send these documents to your spouse and/or family members and ask them to clarify the application process with the Canadian consulate to which they will apply (typically, these details are provided on the consulate website). Processing times and requirements may vary depending on the visa office at which you apply.
US Visas
If you wish to visit the United States, you must first determine the requirements for citizens of your country. Citizens of most countries require a nonimmigrant visa to enter the US for business or pleasure and must apply in advance. Citizens of a select few countries participate in the “Visa Waiver Program” which allows them to apply for entry to the United States without a Non-Immigrant Visa if they are seeking entry for 90 days or less as a visitor for business or pleasure as long as they have a machine-readable passport.
If you require a nonimmigrant visa to enter the US and you are eligible, you must make an appointment for an interview at the US Consular office in Vancouver. Plan ahead as it can take several weeks to get an appointment. You should be aware that if you have been in Canada less than one year (and therefore may not be able to show sufficient ties to Canada) or have previously been refused a US visa, you may encounter more difficulty at the time of the interview. More information can be found on our US Visa information sheet. As immigration regulations often change at a moment's notice, you are encouraged to also visit the official website of the US Consulate in Vancouver for the most accurate, updated information.
Passport Renewal
If you need to renew your passport during your stay here, you should consult with your country’s embassy or consulate in Canada at least six months in advance. A list of foreign representatives in Canada can be found on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada website.
Remember, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will not extend your study permit past the expiration of your passport. If both documents are expiring, you should ensure that your passport is renewed well in advance so that you have adequate time to renew your study permit, if applicable.
Changing your Status: Staying as a Visitor
If you decide you would like to stay in Canada as a tourist after you have completed your degree or exchange program, it may be possible to change the conditions of your study permit into a visitor record by filling out the “Application to Change Conditions, Extend My Stay or Remain in Canada” and mailing it to the Case Processing Centre in Alberta. Once you obtain a visitor record, it will not be possible to apply to become a student or a worker from within Canada. Visit the CIC website for information.
Immigration Status when Leaving & Entering Canada
If you are thinking about travelling home or to another country for holidays, plan ahead! To return to Canada, you will need a valid study permit. If you are from a country that requires a visa to enter Canada, you will also need a valid temporary resident (entry) visa to re-enter Canada unless you are returning from the continental US. Check your documents and plan carefully. See the Study Permit and Temporary Resident Visa sections above for details.
You may notice a notation printed at the bottom of your study permit which says “This Does Not Authorize Re-Entry”. This is printed on all study permits so don’t panic! What this means is that in order to re-enter Canada, you must have all required documents (your valid passport, study permit and valid temporary resident visa, if applicable) and be able to satisfy the immigration officer that you have been obeying immigration regulations and have a valid reason to be in Canada. For most students, re-entry into Canada is a routine procedure, but you should always travel with a current confirmation of enrollment letter from SFU to be safe.
Returning to Canada after visiting the US
An agreement between Canada and the United States allows you to re-enter Canada without a temporary resident visa after a visit solely to the US. You will need a valid passport and a valid study permit to re-enter Canada.
It is recommended that when you travel to the US, you print out the section of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that mentions this temporary resident visa exemption policy and take it with you - scroll down to Division 5 - 190 (3) (f) to view the policy. You can also find reference to this policy on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada's Application Guide 5552E.
It is also always a good idea that whenever you travel outside of Canada, you should take a current confirmation of enrollment letter with you that proves your current registration status with SFU. You can download this document from your Student Information System account.