Canada has announced several benefits for foreign students visiting to study in the country. Expanding the strength of students and lifting working hours restrictions are among many changes that have been brought forth by the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Read more: Canada waives off medical exams for 1,80,000 residence applicants: Details here
Canada is among the world’s leading destinations for international students owing to multiple factors which include affordability, work and permanent residence opportunities. In 2021, Canada hosted over 620,000 international students and issued nearly 450,000 new study permits.
Here are five crucial benefits that Indian students could avail in Canada:
1. According to a report by CIC News, Canada has recognised that from 2022-2023, the number of study permit holders will increase to approximately 753,000 international students which means that there will be more opportunities available for students seeking to study in the country.
Read more: Canada's dependent work visa explained: Eligibility, application, documents
2. Canada is also planning to explore the expansion of Student Direct Stream (SDS) which allows to fast-track study permits for candidates from many countries.
3. Canada is also planning to promote transition to permanent residence for international students in order to manage the labour shortage in the country.
4. In order to help, international students track their applications, Canada's immigration authority has promised to publish monthly data on backlogs.
Read more: Canada's start-up visa: All your questions answered
5. Canada has also allowed international students to work off-campus for over 20 hours per week in a temporary measure which can also be availed by foreign nationals who have already submitted a study permit application.
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Northeastern University is committed to sharing with our students the most up-to-date information possible regarding study permits and ongoing travel restrictions.
Please know that we will work diligently to provide comprehensive advice, process all requests, and advocate for the needs of our students. October 2022 Announcement: Temporary Lifting of Off Campus Work 20-Hour Restriction On October 7, 2022, Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees Canada announced there will be a temporary lift of the 20-hour restriction regarding off campus work for students who are currently inside Canada on a valid study permit, during the period of November 15, 2022 – December 31, 2023. //www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2022/10/international-students-to-help-address-canadas-labour-shortage.html Also included
in this exception are students who are currently overseas with a study permit in process, and who are eventually approved to receive a study permit. Please note that there is no other change to the policy regarding off campus work and the following restrictions remain in place: Please note that completing any work that is part of your academic program, such as an approved Co-op work experience, still requires a valid Co-op Work Permit. While this new announcement by IRCC will provide some additional flexibility in work options
for international students, we remind students that obtaining a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) requires students to successfully complete their program on a full-time basis, with no unscheduled breaks. Please refer to the IRCC requirements to qualify for a PGWP:
//www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/study-permits/post-graduation-work-permit-program/eligibility.html OGS Canada will be hosting a webinar on the topic of working and studying in Canada on Oct.
19th, so please register to attend this session to have your questions answered.
Previous Updates: August 2022 – IRCC recently announced extending its transition period for distance learning measures until August 31st, 2023, for students who are waiting for their study permit approval to come to Canada. LATE
ARRIVAL & DEFERRAL POLICY FOR THE STUDENTS WAITING FOR STUDY PERMIT APPROVALS If you have been approved a study permit and a TRV/eTA, you are expected to arrive by the first day of class. We understand that some students may experience delays in their study permit processing. Each college has its own policies regarding late arrivals and deferrals, so please make sure you are aware of the correct information below for your program. [email protected] If you do not have a study permit approved by the relevant deferral deadline, and you are not eligible for remote learning, you are advised to defer to a later intake. Please see the flowcharts below to understand the process: Scenario 1: Study Permit Approval Scenario 2: Study Permit Pending Scenario 3: Study Permit Not Submitted NU Canadian Campuses
Latest Updates
College
First day of Fall 2022
College of Professional Studies (CPS)
Sept 19th, 2022.
College of Engineering (COE)
Sept 7th, 2022.
Khoury College (Khoury)
Sept 7th, 2022.
College of Science (COS)
Sept 7th, 2022.
College of Arts, Media, and Design (CAMD)
Sept 7th, 2022.
College
Late Arrival Policy
If you still cannot join, please contact the admissions team to request a deferral. Deadlines may vary.
CPS
October 2nd, 2022
//cps.northeastern.edu/academics /request-information/
COE
October 2nd, 2022
[email protected]
Khoury
September 20th, 2022
[email protected]
COS
No late arrivals
[email protected]
CAMD
September 20th, 2022
Graduate Enrollment Manager: Cathy Bright
Important Note:
- Students are expected to study from the first day of the Fall 2022 academic term despite whether they will study on the ground or remotely. If Students are not able to attend classes from the first day, please contact the appropriate academic advisors.
- The COVID situation in Canada is still evolving, and the options presented to Northeastern University’s Canadian Campus students regarding arrival and study may be affected by future travel restrictions put in place by the Government of Canada. Students are advised to closely monitor the Office of Global Services – Canada page for up-to-date information on restrictions, guidance, and policy updates.
Q: I submitted my study permit application before August 31st, 2022, and I am still waiting for my study permit approval. When can I expect that approval?
Please see here for the processing time posted by IRCC.
Q: Do I need to do a Covid test prior to traveling?
No, pre-entry testing is not required for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air, or water. You must still use ArriveCAN within 72 hours before your arrival in Canada.
Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children under the age of 12 are not required to provide a valid pre-entry test result if they are accompanying a fully vaccinated adult.
Children who are less than 5 years old are not required to test, regardless of their vaccination status.
Q: Do I need a quarantine plan if I am able to travel?
Quarantine plans are no longer required for fully vaccinated travellers. If you are tested positive after your arrival, please follow the federal and provincial instructions (British Columbia, Ontario) for isolation.
Q: What is the refund policy, if I start my study online with a pending study permit application in the Fall 2022 and my study permit is refused later?
If you are informed by the college admissions team that you are eligible to start your program remotely and you decide to start the program online with a pending study permit application, you may be eligible for a full tuition refund if:
- You stop studying immediately when you receive the study permit refusal, and
- You inform your academic advisor of your withdrawal request, and
- You email a copy of your refusal letter to [email protected]
Once your withdrawal request is approved by the academic advisor and your document is reviewed by OGS Canada, you may email [email protected] to follow up with the refund process.
If you do not meet the conditions described above, for example, you decide to defer to the next available term, your refund will be issued in accordance with the policies of your college. Please see this link for more information: //studentfinance.northeastern.edu/policies-procedures/refunds-from-credit-balances-withdrawals/.
Q: I am a returning student. When shall I travel back to Canada after spending my summer/winter scheduled break overseas?
You may enter any time before your next term starts if you meet the traveling requirements.
Q: If I started studying online in a previous term, will my PGWP (Post Graduation Work Permit) eligibility be affected?
IRCC has made temporary policy changes to better accommodate eligible international students to benefit from the post-graduation work permit program.
From March 20th, 2020 to August 31st, 2023, if:
- You start your study online outside of Canada, and
- You submitted a study permit application prior to beginning your program, and the application is eventually approved.
The online courses you take outside of Canada will be counted towards the PGWP.
Q: What do I need to bring with me when I travel to Canada?
Please see this page for a list of documents that you need to bring with you to Canada.
Please follow the instructions on the Travelling to Canada page, and check the IRCC website for more information.
Q: Do I have the option to prepay the first-year tuition fees to support my Study Permit/Visa application if I am NOT from an SDS country?
Currently, only the SDS eligible students will be issued with the 1st year tuition fee invoices. If you are not SDS eligible, and you receive a specific request from IRCC asking for proof of payment of tuition after submitting your application, please email [email protected] for further instructions.
Q: Can my family travel with me?
If your accompanying family member has the required travel documents to enter Canada, they may be able to travel with you. Please see this link for more information: //travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/wizard-start
Q: If my previous study permit application was refused, and I have submitted another application before August 31st, 2022, do you suggest I start remote learning while waiting for the second/third study permit application result?
We do not recommend students with previous study permit refusals to start remote learning before their new applications are approved. The processing time is usually longer and refusals may happen again if the applicants fail to address the IRCC officers’ specific concerns. Students are advised to defer to the next available term and join the program until their study permit application is approved.
Contact Information:
If your questions on traveling, study permit/TRV/e-TA applications, are not answered in the above, or online with our FAQ, you may email [email protected]. Please note that this email is experiencing an extremely high volume of emails, so please be patient. Make sure you include your full name and student ID in the message, and please do not send it to multiple recipients, as this will slow down our ability to respond to your request.
For questions related to your course registration, or to communicate your study plans, please contact your Academic Advisors as follows:
College of Computer Science Khoury: [email protected]
College of Engineering (COE): [email protected]
College of Professional Studies (CPS): [email protected]
College of Science (COS): [email protected]
College of Arts, Media, and Design (CAMD) [email protected]