STUDY PERMITS AND POST-GRADUATE

Study Permits and Post-Graduate Work Permits

We help students apply for study permits and post-graduate work authorizations including International Experience Class and Working Holiday visas. If you have received a letter of acceptance from a Canadian school, give us a call.

Castlewell Canadian Immigration Services (CCIS) can assist you with your Canadian Study Permit application. We possess extensive experience in Canadian Study Permit applications and can guide you through the process from beginning to end. We specialize in helping individuals navigate the complex immigration process and we have the knowledge and experience to help you avoid common mistakes and ensure that your application is complete and accurate.

Canada is a popular destination for international students looking to access a world class education in a safe, welcoming and diverse country. To study in Canada, international students must obtain a Canadian study permit. A study permit is a document that allows international students to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada. A DLI is a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. To obtain a study permit, applicants must first apply and be accepted into a program of study at a DLI. You can check if the school you are applying to is on the DLI list here.

In order to obtain a letter of acceptance from a Canadian University, college or other Designated Learning institution, the prospective student must do the hard work of researching appropriate educational programs for themselves and applying to the educational institutions directly. It is also important to choose a program of study that fits you, your plans, and your goals for the future. This is important because Canadian Study Permit applications require you to submit a Study Plan wherein you are asked to justify your choice of program. In the Study Plan you must address questions such as ‘Why do you wish to study in Canada in the program for which you have been accepted?’, ‘What is your overall educational goal?’; ‘Why are you not pursuing a similar program in your country of residence?’ and How will this program enhance your employment opportunities in your country of residence or citizenship?’. Crafting a strong, comprehensive and coherent Study Plan is extremely important for convincing the Canadian Immigration officer that your plan to study in Canada is genuine, that it fits your overall educational and career goals, and that you will take the knowledge you have gained in Canada and take it back to your home country in order to improve your employment prospects and the society in your home country. The immigration consultants at CCIS are experts at crafting very strong and detailed Study Plans that speaks to the genuiness of the applicant’s education plans and outlines their genuine temporary intent in Canada. We understand the requirements and know what immigration officers are looking for and can help you customize your study plan to fit those requirements and maximize your chances of having a successful study permit application.

Once you have been accepted into a program of study in Canada and have received a Letter of Acceptance (LOA), it is important to apply for a study permit as soon as possible. Study Permit processing times can be long and unpredictable, especially in the summer months before most Canadian institutions start the fall semester in September in Canada. Therefore, it is crucial to apply early in order to avoid having your application delayed, causing you to miss some of the program while you wait for your study permit approval.

Note that Canada has a fast-track study permit application process for applicants residing in the following countries: India, China, The Philippines, Pakistan, Vietnam, Morocco, Senegal, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. If you reside in one of these countries and fulfill a number of additional requirements, it may be possible to receive a study permit approval in approximately 20 days. However, you should not rely on this. Always make sure to apply as soon as possible to avoid undue stress.

Applicants must also provide proof of financial support to ensure that they can support themselves while studying in Canada. This financial support could include proof of a scholarship, bank statements showing sufficient funds, or a letter from a sponsor (typically the applicant’s parents) indicating their willingness to support the student. The applicant must show that they have sufficient funds to cover the first year of tuition, as well as living expenses ($10,000 for a 12-month period) and return transportation to their home country.

Depending on the age and circumstances of the applicant, police records, English language proficiency test results and medical examinations may also need to be included in the application.

If you are approved for a study permit in Canada, you will be issued a Letter of Introduction (LOI). Th LOI is not the study permit, but is instead an approval letter that applicants must present to border officers upon arrival in Canada. The actual study permit will be issued upon arrival in Canada. In addition to the LOI, applicants will be issued a visa, stamped in their passport if they are of a Citizenship that requires a visa to travel to Canada, or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), if they do not require a visa in their passport.

The study permit has certain conditions attached to it, such as the length of time the student is permitted to study in Canada and whether or not they are permitted to work while studying. Most study permits allow students to work up to 20 hours per week during the academic session and full-time during scheduled breaks, such as winter and summer holidays.

The length of time that a study permit is valid can depend on the length of the program of study. For most degree-issuing programs (Bachelors, Masters), the study permit is usually valid for the length of the program of study plus 90 days. In-Canada study permit extension applications can be applied for if necessary.

It is important to always maintain your valid status in Canada and ensure that you check whether you are required to apply for a new study permit due to a change in your status or education program. IRCC states that students are not required obtain a new study permit in order to transfer between educational institutions, study programs, or study levels, but there are some circumstances where a new study permit can be required, so check with us to determine if this applies to your circumstances. In addition, you must always comply with any conditions imposed upon you as a study permit holder, such as restrictions on the nature of work, maximum hours you can work per week, how long you can study, etc.

International graduates must be aware that their study permits become invalid 90 days following their graduation, regardless of the permit’s printed date. Therefore, it’s crucial that graduates inform the IRCC of their current status within this 90-day period; otherwise, they may face the loss of their Canadian status.

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Post-Graduate Work Permits

Fortunately, many graduates may qualify for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), which authorizes them to work for any employer throughout Canada for up to three years after their graduation, depending on the length of their program of study. Additionally, obtaining work experience through a PGWP can be beneficial when applying for Canadian permanent residence, particularly through programs such as the Canadian Experience Class and some Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams.

To be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in Canada, you must meet the following requirements:

To obtain a post-graduation work permit, the applicant must currently hold valid temporary status or have left Canada. They must have graduated from an eligible designated learning institution (DLI). They must also submit clear evidence that they meet all of the following criteria:

They have completed an academic, vocational or professional training program at an eligible institution in Canada that is at least 8 months in duration leading to a degree, diploma or certificate.
They have maintained full-time student status in Canada during each academic session of the program or programs of study they have completed and submitted as part of their post-graduation work permit application. Exceptions can be made in certain circumstances only for certain periods of leave from studies and during the final academic session.
They have received a transcript and an official letter from the eligible DLI confirming that they have met the requirements to complete their program of study.

Note: The transcript and official letter must be included in a post-graduation work permit application.

Within 180 days of applying for the post-graduation work permit, applicants must also meet one of the following criteria:

They hold a valid study permit.
They held a study permit.
They were authorized to study in Canada without the requirement to obtain a study permit under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

Applicants can receive only 1 post-graduation work permit in their lifetime.

If you meet all of these requirements, you may be eligible to apply for a PGWP, which will allow you to work in Canada for up to three years after you complete your studies. It’s important to note that there may be additional requirements depending on your specific situation, so it is prudent to check the official Canadian government website for more information.

Studying in Canada offers a wide range of benefits to international students. Canada is a multicultural society and international students can experience this diversity firsthand by meeting people from all over the world. The country has a reputation for being safe and welcoming to newcomers. International students can also enjoy the natural beauty of Canada, from the Rocky Mountains to the stunning coastlines.

Canada’s education system is also highly regarded. Canadian universities and colleges are known for their academic excellence and their commitment to research and innovation. International students can choose from a wide range of programs and institutions across the country, including some of the top-ranked universities in the world.

With a study permit, international students can benefit from all that Canada has to offer and pursue their academic and personal goals in a welcoming and supportive environment. However, the process of obtaining a study permit can be a long and complicated one, full of bureaucracy and red tape. This is where hiring the professionals at Castlewell Canadian Immigration Services can make all the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you regulated professional immigration consultants?

Yes. You can verify that our consultants are registered members of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC – the governing body that regulates Immigration Consultants in Canada) by going to the CICC website (https://college-ic.ca/protecting-the-public/find-an-immigration-consultant) and searching for the company name ‘Castlewell’.
Why do you charge a fee for consultations?

Consultations often involve a significant amount of correspondence, including meetings, calls, detailed emails and background research. We strive to provide comprehensive and tailored assessments of eligibility and strategy for our clients. When a potential client purchases a consultation, we also do not limit the consultation to just the hour purchased, but also answer email follow-up questions. All this takes time. Therefore, we must charge a fee to compensate for the time and expertise that goes into such assessments.
What experience do you have?

The Castlewell Immigration team possesses 17 years experience in the Canadian immigration industry, working in some of the largest and well-known immigration law firms in Canada. We have trained under many of the best immigration lawyers in the country and as such hold ourselves to the highest standard of quality and professional ethics.
What are the benefits to using an authorized representative?

Our team brings a detailed knowledge of immigration laws, policies and procedures to your application. While there are many people who have straightforward cases, and are able to file on their own, there are many who attempt and receive a refusal based on misinterpretation of immigration policy, or simply being unaware of rules and regulations. In addition, there are many people who prefer to save the time and effort and have a specialist prepare an application on their behalf. Picture it like preparing your taxes, a lot of people chose to file on their own, but there are also lots of reasons to have a qualified specialist help you out.
I am not located close to your office. Do I need to be close by to work with you?

No, geographic proximity is not necessary to work with us. In fact, in many cases we never meet our clients face-to-face as they are outside of Canada. We have serviced clients from all over the world destined for cities all across Canada. Often, even clients who are close by prefer to just work with us online. As long as you are comfortable with computers, telephone and email, working with us from anywhere in the world will be a breeze!
Can you guarantee the success of my application?

No. The decision to approve or refuse an application rests solely with the Canadian government. As such, it is not possible for us to ever guarantee an outcome, and any immigration representative that does is acting unethically. It is our policy to only take cases we believe have a very strong likelihood of success. If for any reason we believe that your case is not a strong one, we will tell you and let you decide if you still want to proceed knowing all the possible risks. Also, if we feel that your case requires services that we do not provide (for example we do not do refugee cases), we are happy to refer you to another service provider who may suit you better.