FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)CANADIAN CONSULATE GENERAL

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
CANADIAN CONSULATE GENERAL

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Please appreciate that there are many questions that relate to individual circumstances. These frequently asked questions are a guide - but should answer most of your queries. The Canadian Consulate General (Immigration Section) may be contacted by fax on: (02) 9364 3099 or via email at sydney.immigration@international.gc.ca. Please allow a response time of approximately 5 working days.

Do I need a student authorisation/study permit?

In most cases where you are engaging in study at an institution in Canada you will require a student authorisation/study permit.   For Australian citizens no permit is required for short-term programs that are six months or less. 

For example:

• an English or French language course that lasts a maximum of six (6) months
• non academic, professional or vocational such as: self-improvement, general interest courses such as arts and crafts; courses included in tour packages as a secondary activity for tourists; day care or nursery school programs which are not a compulsory part of the elementary school system.

Additional information may be found at: http://www.cic.gc.ca

I am going on a 'cultural exchange' for less than 3 months to an elementary or high school in Canada. I will not be enrolled in a formal course of study nor receiving credits toward a course of study. My school has an agreement with a Canadian School. Do I need a student authorisation?

NO - you do not require a student authorisation/study permit. You should make contact with the Consulate General/Sydney with a letter from your school in your home country confirming your cultural exchange placement to a school in Canada and provide a letter of invitation for a cultural exchange from the school in Canada. The Consulate General/Sydney will provide you with a letter to facilitate your entry to Canada as a visitor on a cultural exchange program.

How do I lodge a formal application for a Study Permit?

The first step is securing a letter of acceptance to a Canadian education institution.

You should then follow the steps below:

• Download the application form for a student authorisation.
• Complete the form carefully, including all accompanying family members (note: this means SPOUSE and children under the age of 19 years who will accompany you to Canada) including passport details. Partners and de factos cannot be considered as dependants under Canada's current Immigration Act.
• Attach a processing fee of $AUD155 ($125CDN) for the student authorisation in the form of a postal money order, bank cheque (if in Australia) or bank draft (if outside Australia). If there are children who will be attending a Canadian elementary or secondary school include $155AUD ($125CDN) processing fee in the total cheque amount for processing a student authorisation for each child.
• Attach 2 passport-size photographs for yourself and each accompanying family member.
• Attach a photocopy of the passport information page for each accompanying person.
  

Australian and New Zealand passport holders:  DO NOT SEND YOUR PASSPORT TO THIS OFFICE

• Include a copy of your acceptance letter from the Canadian institution that you will be attending. This acceptance letter will include: your full name and mailing address; your course of accepted study; the date of commencement; the last date for registration; the estimated duration or date of completion of the course; the academic year you will be entering; the tuition fee (if applicable).
• If on a student exchange program, a letter from your home institution confirming your placement is required.
• Attach your bank statement of transactions for the past 6 months - or evidence of funds from the account that you will be drawing funds once in Canada. See additional information provided in these Frequently Asked Questions on funds. If we require other documents specific to your prospective study in Canada The Consulate General/Sydney will correspond with you directly in writing. The processing fee is non-refundable, if you withdraw, do not complete the requirements of your application or if your application is refused.

How long will processing take?

We request applicants allow 4 weeks for processing. The onus is on the applicant to ensure that the application is submitted early enough to be processed in time for departure. In the case where a medical examination is needed processing is usually a minimum of 6 weeks.

I am under 19 years of age and travelling to Canada unaccompanied, as a student. Are there any special procedures for me?

YES. You need to provide with your application for student authorisation a letter of consent signed by both parents. If you parents are divorced/separated and there is a custodial or guardianship agreement in place for your care, you should provide a copy of this document with your application. If you are being supported financially by your parent/s a copy of their bank statement/s are required. You should provide documentation to demonstrate where you will be staying in Canada signed by your prospective guardians in Canada.

Are there special procedures for applying for an authorisation to study in the Province of Quebec?

YES. The primary, secondary and college or university institution in Quebec will give information to prospective students on how to apply for provincial approval to study in Quebec and how students obtain the Certificat d'acceptation (CAQ). Any inquiry regarding obtaining a CAQ should be directed to the Canadian educational institution not the Canadian Consulate General in Sydney. See: www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/students/index.html  for further information.

You must apply first for a CAQ and then make a separate application to the Canadian Consulate General in Sydney for a student authorisation.

You do not require a CAQ if you are:

• a student chosen under a Canadian funded program for developing countries;
• the dependant of a diplomat accredited to Canada;
• a student enrolled in a part time course of study of less than 20 hours per week;
• a student enrolled in an intensive French or English course of at least 20 hours per week for a maximum period of 12 weeks.

EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN CANADIAN INSTITUTIONS:

Can I work at the same time as I study?

For full time students registered in a degree granting course at a Canadian university, community college or publicly funded trade/technical school will have the following remark listed as a condition on their student authorisation when printed at the Port of Entry to Canada

"May accept employment on the campus of the institution at which the holder is registered in full-time studies".

This means that you may accept employment on the campus of the institution where you are studying in Canada. The employer can be the institution, faculty, student organisation, private business or private contractor providing services to the institution campus. This provision also allows for working as a graduate, research or teaching assistant at an "off campus site" that has a formal affiliation with the institution for example teaching hospitals, clinics or research institutes. Part time students do not qualify for this provision.

In some cases student will be required to pass an immigration medical examination prior to a case being finalised.

Employment is integral to my course of study as prescribed by the Canadian institution:

If your course of study in Canada has a component of field placement, industry placement or requires you to work as an integral and essential part of your course of study in Canada you will be issued with an employment authorisation to complement your student authorisation. Employment must not constitute greater than 50% of the total program of study in Canada.

Note: The letter provided by the Canadian education institution should establish clearly that the work is a normal component of the academic program in Canada and all participants are expected to complete in order to receive their degree, diploma or certificate.

Employment following graduation:

The post-graduation work program is designed to provide graduating students with Canadian work experience in their field of study for up to three years after their graduation.  The work permit cannot be valid longer than the length of time the student studied.  For example, students graduating from a four-year degree program might be eligible for a three-year work permit.  Students graduating from an eight-month certificate program would only be eligible for a work permit of eight months.

To be eligible for the program:

•   You must have graduated from a Canadian public post-secondary institution (some private institutions also qualify).

•  You  must have studied full-time for at least eight months preceding the completion of your program of study.

•   You must apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation from your institution indicating that you have met the requirements of completing your academic program (e.g. transcript, official letter from the institution, etc.).

•   You must have a valid study permit when you apply for the work permit.

Students wishing to obtain employment during / after study in ALL other cases:

You cannot hold a valid employment authorisation at the same time as you hold a valid student visa. When The Consulate General/Sydney approves a work or student application a "Letter of Introduction" is printed. The holder presents this "Letter of Introduction" to a Port of Entry officer and an employment or student authorisation is printed and attached to the valid passport of the holder. You can only hold ONE Letter of Introduction at any time. You can ONLY hold one authorisation at any one time. As an example, you cannot hold onto a Letter of Introduction for the Australia Working Holiday (AWHP) or Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP) while you are in Canada as a student, with the view to re enter later on the employment AWHP/SWAP letter of introduction.

Does my accompanying family have to enter Canada at the same time as the student?

NO. The student has to enter first and present his or her Letter of Introduction to a visa officer at a Port of Entry to Canada and advise the officer there are family members following at a later date. Family members who have been included on the student application form as an "accompanying family member/s" may travel after the student and should carry a copy of the letter issued by the visa office so they can be identified at the Port of Entry to Canada as an accompanying dependant. Normal immigration requirements for visitor visa must be met. See VISITORS on this website for more information.

Can my spouse work in Canada?

A special provision to work exists for spouses (legally married) of holders of valid Canadian student authorisations. These spouses may apply for their own employment authorisation in Canada. Spouses of students do not require the Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) approval or a prior offer of employment.

The spouse enters Canada as visitor in the first instance (visitor visas may be required for entry for people with passports from visa imposed countries) seek employment and apply through the Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Vegreville, Alberta. When in Canada, contact a Canada immigration Call centre for more information. Spouses should carry a copy of their marriage certificate with a copy of the husband or wife's student authorisation with them. Validity of the spouses employment authorisation will coincide with the student authorisation validity.

Can my accompanying dependants attend elementary or high school?

YES. Student authorisations can be issued at the time that the applicant's student authorisation is issued. If there are children attending elementary or high school in Canada include the $140AUD ($125CDN) processing fee in the total cheque amount for processing the student authorisation for each child.

Can accompanying dependant children work in Canada?

NO. There is no provision in a parent's student authorisation which allows a dependant child access to employment. Refer to Australia Working Holiday Program (AWHP) for these cases. For detailed information on student visas and procedures visit the Canada Immigration website at www.cic.gc.ca