Q1.
Are all foreign students in Canada eligible for the program?
A: If you are a foreign student studying in Canada , you must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for a work permit under the Off-Campus Work Permit Program:
- you must have a valid study permit;
- you must have studied full time at an eligible institution for at least six months out of the 12 months before you apply;
- you must maintain satisfactory academic standing (as defined by your academic institution);
- you must be enrolled in an academic program of study; and
- you must comply with the conditions of your study permit and your work permit, if applicable. If you fail to do so, you will be found to be in non-compliance and will not be able to re-apply for the program.
Q2. Are there any students who are not eligible?
A : a) Foreign students who are not studying at publicly funded post-secondary educational institutions are not eligible.
Publicly funded post-secondary educational institutions are:
- public post-secondary institutions that have signed an off-campus work agreement with their provincial government;
or
- private post-secondary institutions that operate under the same rules and regulations as public institutions, receive at least 50% of their financing for their overall operations from government grants, and have signed an off-campus work agreement with their provincial government. Currently, établissements privés subventionnés d'enseignement collégial (private subsidized college institutions) in Quebec qualify.
b) If you are not enrolled at a participating institution you are not eligible.
c) All exchange students, guest students, students enrolled in English or French second language programs, and students who have received awards from the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, the Government of Canada Awards Program or the Canadian International Development Agency, or students who in the past did not comply with the conditions of their study or work permit, are not eligible for work permits under the Off-Campus Work Permit Program.
Q3.
How do I apply?
Contact our Office for further guidance.
Q4.
How do I find out if the institution where I study is participating in the Off-Campus Work Permit Program?
A: Contact the institution where you are studying and ask if it has signed an agreement for the purpose of this program with the province or territory in which it is located. You can also visit the CIC Web site to see if your institution is participating ( www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/guide-list.html ) or contact the department responsible for education in your province or territory for more information.
Q5.
If I receive a work permit, how long is it valid for?
A: Your work permit will allow you to work off campus until you complete your studies, as long as you remain in satisfactory academic standing and comply with the conditions of your work permit and your study permit.
Q6. Is there a fee to apply for the work permit?
Yes. The fee is $150.
Q7.
Once I apply for the work permit, how long will it take to process my application?
Generally, it will take from one month to six weeks. However, your individual circumstances may affect the processing time. They include:
- whether you are eligible for the program;
- whether your application is complete; and
- whether the institution you attend has signed an agreement with the province or territory in which it is located.
Q8.
If I meet the eligibility criteria, and the institution where I study is participating in the program, can I apply for a job off campus right away, or do I have to wait until I receive my work permit?
You can apply for a job right away, but you cannot legally work off campus in Canada until you receive a work permit. If you begin to work off campus before you receive a work permit, you could lose your eligibility to participate in the Off-Campus Work Permit Program.
Q9.
Are there any restrictions on where I can work or the type of job that I can apply for?
You will be able to work anywhere in Canada as long as you remain a full-time student in satisfactory academic standing while classes are in session and you comply with the conditions of your work permit.
10.
Are there any restrictions on how many hours I can work once I receive my work permit?
Once you receive your work permit, you can work up to 20 hours per week off campus while classes are in session. You can work full time during scheduled breaks, including summer or winter holidays and reading weeks. While classes are in session, you must be studying full time and retain satisfactory academic standing in order to keep your work permit.
Q11.
Why is this program not available to foreign students when they start their studies?
The likelihood of a student quitting his or her program is increased during the first months. CIC wants to ensure that work permits are issued to students who are legitimate students. When they apply, these students will be required to prove that they have been studying full time for six of the last 12 months at a participating institution.
Q12.
I am considering studying in Canada . Can I apply for a work permit at the same time as I apply for my study permit?
You cannot apply for a study permit and a work permit at the same time under the Off-Campus Work Permit Program. In order to qualify for the program, you must already hold a valid study permit, and have been a full-time student at a participating institution for at least six months out of the last 12 months before you apply.
Q13. What is the difference between a permanent or temporary resident visas ?
Holders of permanent resident visas are allowed to live in Canada permanently
whereas temporary resident visa holders are allowed to remain in Canada for a specific
period of time. The period of stay depends on the purpose and class of visa issued.
Q14.
What are the benefits of a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa ?
A permanent resident is afforded all facilities a Canadian Citizen has other than
applying for a Canadian passport and voting in the elections.They can apply for Canadian
Citizenship after they have lived in Canada for 1095 days out of four years.
Q15.
Can a visitor study in Canada ?
A person with a visitors visa can only study in Canada without a study permit for six
months.
Q16.
Can a student with a study permit work in Canada ?
Yes.
Q17.
How long does it take to process an application?
Processing times vary depending on the type of visa required and the country where the
application was made.
Q18. What are the reasons of delay in processing an application for a visa?
Some reasons for the delay in processing an application are:
- An incomplete application.
- Documentation and presentation of the application is poor.
- Applicant's health issues.
- Misunderstanding of visa requirements.
- The need for a person to person interview.
- Security and criminality issues of the applicant.
- Applicant is unable to obtain required documentation on time.
- Request from visa officer for additional information.
- Inconsistent information submitted to the visa office (this could do an irreversible
damage to the applicant's application).
Q19. What does Immigration Visa mean?
Immigration Visa is a document that permits the holder to settle, work and live in Canada as a permanent resident. The permanent resident status can be converted to Citizenship status after a period of three years of physical stay in Canada.
Q20. Has the Canadian Immigration Law changed?
The Immigration Law is constantly changing and can impact individual applications in a variety of ways depending on the individual circumstances.
Q21.
Why do I need the services of an Immigration Consultant?
If you are seeking to migrate to Canada and the services of a Canadian Immigration Consultant, you should ensure that he/she is registered with the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants. The new legislation that took effect in the early months of 2006, clearly stipulates that Citizenship and Immigration Canada will no longer deal with any fee charging consultant who is not a registered member of the CSIC in good standing. We are certified by the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) and authorized representatives to deal with the CIC on all immigration matters for our clients.
When you are using the services of a Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant, you know that you are dealing with a qualified Consultant who has necessary Immigration Law qualifications and is bound by Rules of Professional Conduct and Continuous Professional Development of Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants. By appointing a Certified Canadian Immigration Consultant you:
- Maximize your chances of success in your visa applications
- Get advise on upgrading your skills
- Explore all options you may have
- Get step by step information on procedural matters
- Minimize delays often associated with an application
- Get the advice on legal issues you may have and
- Know clearly your costs for our services on a written agreement
We make sure that the application is completed and submitted with all the supporting information and documents in the very start to avoid the unnecessary delays and sometimes-irreversible damage associated with an incomplete application. Whether you are a business person, a student, a family member seeking to join your family here in Canada or someone who has been denied a visa for any purpose, we will do our best to help you to a successful resolution of your case.
Taking the help from an unregistered consultant in filling an application will not help you in the end in case you are unsuccessful in securing a visa. On the other hand it will compound your problems since you are now under more scrutiny by the CIC.
Q22. How do I retain the services of an Immigration Consultant?
You are advised to submit the Free Assessment form available at www.icanmigrate.com. After analysis of information provided by you we will contact you with the best course of action available under your particular circumstances and will also explain to you your chances of succeeding in your attempt to immigrate to Canada.
Q23. What are the Canadian Government fees?
Visa and Permit Fee's (Canadian dollars)
| Permanent Resident Visas |
| Family Class applicants |
| Sponsorship application (per application) |
$75 |
| Principal applicant |
$475 |
| Principal applicant, if less than 22 years of age and not a spouse or common-law partner (including a dependent child of the sponsor, a child to be adopted and an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew or grandchild) |
$75 |
| A family member of the principal applicant who is 22 years of age or older, or is less than 22 years of age and is a spouse or common-law partner |
$550 |
| A family member of the principal applicant who is less than 22 years of age and is not a spouse or common-law partner |
$150 |
| Note: Fees assessed for principal applicants and family members under the Family Class are payable, along with the sponsorship fee, when the sponsor files the sponsorship application. |
| Investor, Entrepreneur or Self-employed Persons Class applicants
|
| Principal applicant |
$1,050 |
| A family member of the principal applicant who is 22 years of age or older, or is less than 22 years of age and is a spouse or common-law partner |
$550 |
| A family member of the principal applicant who is less than 22 years of age and is not a spouse or common-law partner |
$150 |
| Other classes of applicants |
| Principal applicant |
$550 |
| A family member of the principal applicant who is 22 years of age or older, or is less than 22 years of age and is a spouse or common-law partner |
$550 |
| A family member of the principal applicant who is less than 22 years of age and is not a spouse or common-law partner |
$150 |
| Temporary Resident Visas |
| Single entry to Canada |
$75 |
| Multiple entry |
$150 |
| Note: The total will not exceed $400 per family, provided that the family members all apply at the same time and place. |
| Work Permits |
| Work permit |
$150 |
| Note: This fee is per person, but the total amount will not exceed $450 in the case of a group of three or more performing artists and their staff who apply at the same time and place. |
| Study Permits |
| Study permit |
$125 |
Right Of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) (Canadian dollars)
| Permanent Resident Visas |
$490 |
This fee is payable by principal applicants (with some exceptions) and accompanying spouses and common-law partners. It must be paid before the immigrant visa is issued overseas or before the applicant becomes a permanent resident in Canada .
The following applicants are not required to pay this fee:
- Dependent children of a principal applicant or sponsor, a child to be adopted, or an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew or grandchild; and
- Protected persons, including Convention refugees.
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Q24. How much settlement funds do I need when immigrating to Canada?
Under the Skilled Worker category of Immigration, the Canada Immigration Officer assessing an application must be satisfied that the applicant has sufficient settlement funds when migrating to Canada. The funds must be transferable. The requirement for settlement funds is waived if the applicant has arranged employment in Canada.
The required settlement funds must be equal to or greater than the sums listed below for each family size.
| Number of family members |
Funds required |
| 1 |
Can $ 10,168 |
| 2 |
Can $ 12.659 |
| 3 |
Can $ 15,563 |
| 4 |
Can $ 18,895 |
| 5 |
Can $ 21,431 |
| 6 |
Can $ 24,170 |
| 7 or more |
Can $ 26,910 |
Q25. Once approved, when do I need to move?
Your arrival must be within one year from the date of your medical tests. For work permits and other temporary visas you may only have a number of months to enter the country.
Q26. My migration consultant has assessed me as being eligible for residence in Canada. If I apply without his or her help, can I be certain of success?
No. Although you may fundamentally qualify under Canada's immigration policy, you are by no means guaranteed of success. Your application must be prepared in accordance with the prevailing immigration regulations and submitted together with the appropriate supporting documentation in order to be approved by the Canadian Department of Immigration. Though the ways in which to do this are set out by the immigration authorities yet it can result in many applicants presenting their cases wrongly, inevitably leading to refusal.
Q27. When I migrate, will I lose my current passport?
No, not necessarily. Firstly, you will enter as a permanent resident or landed immigrant, which does not affect your current citizenship status. After three years you can apply for Canadian citizenship (but this is not obligatory). The Canadian Government allows dual-nationality (i.e. the holding of two passports), so you could retain your current passport and obtain a Canadian passport as well. Having said this, you must check that your own country of citizenship allows dual-nationality, as this right must be reciprocal. If not, you will need to surrender your other passport in order to become a Canadian citizen.
Q28. Can you assist me in finding business opportunities, property or employment once I arrive in Canada?
Yes. We can assist in these areas through our many partners. We encourage our clients to stay in touch with us once they arrive, as we can be a valuable source of information in all aspects of Canadian life.
Q29. How can I become a citizen of Canada?
Only after three (3) years of being a permanent resident/landed immigrant of Canada, is one eligible to apply for Citizenship.
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