Canada remains a popular choice for foreign students seeking educational opportunities. A strong educational standard and internationally recognized institutions enable Canada to attract a large number of international students each year. In 2021 alone, nearly 450,000 new international students were accepted. To maximize your chances of study permit approval in Canada you should be aware of the qualifications necessary for acceptance, the authority of the immigration officer in charge of the review, and the options available if their application is rejected.
Foreign students are welcomed in Canada annually, but some of their study permit applications are denied. A successful application requires applicants to carefully review the eligibility requirements. And the judgment of IRCC immigration officers when evaluating their applications.
Maximize your chances of study permit approval by understanding its eligibility
A study permit can only be granted to candidates who meet the necessary requirements. In order to demonstrate this, applicants must:
- Have received acceptance to enroll in classes at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). A DLI is a school that has been granted permission from a provincial or territorial authority to admit students from abroad.
- The applicant must be an active law-abiding citizen with no criminal record, as well as he or she, must not pose a threat to the security of Canada. You may also need a certificate of police clearance.
- A medical checkup may be required, so be sure you are in good physical condition and ready for it.
A study permit application’s acceptance or rejection is also determined by the immigration officer’s judgment.
Immigration officers’ discretion
Success may depend on an applicant’s ability to convince immigration officials that they can fulfill the requirements of their stay as a student.
Other than ineligibility, there are two common reasons petitions are rejected (though there are others). They include applicants failing to persuade immigration officials:
- IRCC denied 77% of study visa applications between 2019 and 2021 because it was not convinced that the applicant’s trip was educational in nature.
- According to IRCC, 26% of study permit applications were denied during the same period. Because they were unconvinced the applicant would leave Canada at the end of their stay.
It is important that applicants consider how clear their applications are in demonstrating this. Candidate’s chances of being accepted will most likely increase if they:
- Students should show that they have made a clear and logical progression from their previous education to the Canadian education they are pursuing.
- Ensure they can provide authorized documentation as proof of finances;
- To ensure they are eligible for immigration, they must be bilingual in English and French.
- Describe any gaps in their education in their application.
- Indicate that they will be leaving Canada at the end of their studies.
- When they apply for permanent residence (PR) at the same time, they must complete a dual intent application. As a visitor, worker, or student, a foreign national with dual intent may also apply for permanent residency (PR).
- For the officer reviewing their study permit application, they should include any other documentation they can.
In addition, applicants may wish to investigate the streams of study permits that are available. Obtaining a Canadian study permit via the Student Direct Stream is preferred by citizens of particular nations. Due to the strict qualifying requirements for this stream, acceptance rates are often higher. Those who are accepted will benefit from accelerated processing timeframes.
Available options if your application is denied
It can be frustrating to receive a refusal for a study permit. However, applicants can still take action to study in Canada, and even improve their chances of being accepted when they reapply.
After reviewing the refusal letter, applicants can adjust their applications based on the reasons for their refusal. If no interim period is specified, applicants can reapply whenever they are ready, as IRCC does not have an interim period between applications.
In conclusion, if an applicant believes that the refusal letter stated reasons for the refusal were incorrect (and that they do meet the eligibility criteria). They can apply to the Federal Court of Canada for a review of their decision.
