Thread by @HumanSquadCA

Have you received your Admission Letter from a school in Canada?

Are you ready to apply for your Study Visa?

Here is a Step-by-Step guide of how to apply online for a Student Visa to Canada.

To start with, this guide is for those who have been granted admission by an institution in Canada.

Basically, you have an acceptance letter at hand and have been informed to apply for a study permit.

However, if you want to apply to a school in Canada, you can check these:

A list of all schools in Canada: tinyurl.com/y3dbs6vc

Rank of the cheapest schools in Canada: tiny.cc/xgl7gz

Schools that do not require GRE for PhD/ Masters: tiny.cc/qil7gz

1. After you have received your acceptance letter from the school, you should check if you need a study permit here: tiny.cc/qpn7gz

Most likely, the self-assessment will indicate you are eligible & need to apply for a study permit

Then click: ‘Apply for Study Permit’

2. On the 'Apply for Study Permit' page you’d be asked two questions:

(a.) Where are you applying from? Answer: Outside Canada.
(b.) How do you want to apply? Answer: Online.

Then scroll down and click:

‘Create An Account and Sign In.'

3. You should see this page after clicking 'Create An Account & Sign In': tiny.cc/l7n7gz

Once there, click: ‘Sign in with GCKey’.

Create your Username, Password & Security Q&As.

Voila! You now have an online profile with a required list of documents to submit.

4. Now gather your Documents.

The ‘FORMS’ you’d need are:

(a.) Application of a Study Permit made outside Canada. (IMM 1294)
(b.) Application for a Temporary Resident Visa made outside Canada. (Optional)
(c.) Family Information Form (IMM 5645 or IMM 5707)

Here is a link to find all required forms: tiny.cc/j115gz

*It is best to:

- Download the forms first.
- Go to the 'download folder' on your computer.
- Open the forms from there.

*Also, ensure to install the most recent version of Adobe Reader.

Other Required Documents:

- Acceptance Letter from School
- International Passport
- Digital Passport Photograph (Canada Spec required)

Here is the Canada digital passport specification: tiny.cc/c515gz

- Proof of Means of Financial Support (Statement of Account)

***For Proof of Means of Financial Support, provide your sponsor's statement of account as well as your own statement of account.

Also, provide any other document that can support your financial dependency.

- Police Clearance Certificate, PCC (Optional)

The PCC is not a required document listed on the CIC study visa checklist.

However, in order to avoid delay in processing time in case they need it, I always advise to include it.

- Motivation/ Letter of Explanation

This is where you tell:

-A story unique to yourself.
-Who you are.
-What you presently do?
-Why study in Canada and not some other country?
-Why return to your country after study?
-Why the school?
-Why did you choose the course?

- A letter from Sponsor

Sponsor (preferably Dad/Mum) should write a letter of introduction.

It should include:

-How you are related.
-Why they want you to school in Canada.
-Importance of course.
-Financial capabilities available.
-Concrete confirmation that you’d return.

Most times, there will not be a designated section on your profile to upload any of the following additional/optional documents:

a.Police report
b.Sponsor Letter
c.Resume
d.Job Offer Letter
e.Job Promotion Letter
f.Job Confirmation Letter
g.Portfolio Information

In this case, use one of the PDF Mergers below to merge above documents in (a-g) to your Motivational Letter.

-PDF Merge
-PDFSam
-PDFbinder
-SmallPDF

If the PDF file is more than 4MB, use one of the following to compress the file:

-FreePDFConvert
-Pdf2Go
-SodaPDF
-PDF24

5. Double-check all documents & forms to ensure they’ve been filled, signed, and validated properly.

6. When you are sure all is good, then proceed to submit.

Application fee is:

- Study Permit: CAD150
- Biometrics Fee: CAD85

Total: CAD235.

**Biometrics is done at VFS Office

7. After submitting your application, you’d get a 'Biometrics Introduction Letter', which you’d take to the VFS Office for your biometrics.

- Once you receive this letter, check the VFS website and book an appointment here: tiny.cc/hwo7gz

Finally, work on these for a strong application:

1. Choice of Sponsor: Dad/ Mum usually the most preferred sponsor. (Not uncle or aunt).

2. Insufficient Funds: Asides from your tution fees, you should show there is CAD10,000 available for every school year you’d spend in Canada

3. Improper Documentation: Don't submit Document A for B or vice versa. No one has time to sort documents.

4. No travel history: Try to get your passport stamped.

5. Not meeting health standard: Here is a link to health issues by CIC: tiny.cc/djv7gz

6. Possibility of overstaying: This is why you should submit a strong convincing motivational letter alongside your sponsor's indicating you’d be returning after your study.

One thing to note is that once you receive a notification from CIC to go for a medical examination, just start getting your bags ready because the study permit might get approved.

As always, Canada Immigration is a DIY process because the info is out there, but if you are overwhelmed, denied before, unsure, and need assistance...

...then you need to speak to a licensed Canadian immigration consultant who is here in Canada tinyurl.com/y4hvqzd3