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Visa & Study Permits
There are three categories of people in Canada: citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents.International students, workers, and visitors are all temporary residents. As a temporary resident you may have two or three types of immigration documents.
- Study Permit (study permit, work permit, or visitor record)
A valid study permit authorizes you to remain in the country while you study. If you are going to attend Douglas College and are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you must obtain a study permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
- Temporary Resident Visa
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) is used only for entry into Canada. It is recommended that you maintain a valid TRV while you are in Canada but it is not mandatory. Only citizens of certain countries require a TRV. A TRV may allow single entry or multiple entry; it can be obtained only from a Canadian visa office (such as a consulate or embassy) outside of Canada. A TRV is only used to enter Canada, while a study permit allows you to stay in the country.
- Work Permits for students
It is possible to work in Canada while you are here as a student, and there are opportunities for jobs on and off campus. You will need to apply. To more about working on campus, working off campus, co-op and internship programs and working after graduation, please visit Citizen & Immigration Canada website.- Create an e-pass and applicant profile by registering with MyCIC.
- When prompted, request that Douglas provide you with an Electronic Verification Number (EVN). Log out of the CIC website after you have submitted your request for verification. Your online request for verification will be processed by Douglas International in five business days. You will receive a notification from CIC in your MyCIC account once it has been processed. This message will contain an EVN and a link to the next part of the online application.
- At the end of the application, you will be asked to submit a copy of your passport, including the information and photo page and any pages that refer to your stay in Canada. You can upload this information as a PDF file online.
- You will be asked to pay an application fee ($150). You can either pay online with a credit card or at a local bank with a receipt form available from I. House. If you pay at a local bank, you can scan and upload the receipt as a PDF file.
- If CIC has any questions after you apply, they will contact you at the email address or phone number on your application.
- Your application for the off-campus work permit must be submitted within two months of the date that it was started. After two months, your unsent application will expire and you will need to begin a new application.
- Obtain a TRV application package. Please make sure you get the pilot project application guide and forms to apply in US. You can find it online here.
- Complete application forms: IMM5257 Pilot Project and IMM5257 Schedule 1
- Complete the document checklist
- Pay application fee. CAD$150 for multiple entry visa; CAD$75 for single entry visa. *Effective Nov. 15, 2009, before you submit an application for TRV, visit the webpage of the office where you will be submitting you application for their specific instructions regarding fee payment. For more information, please visit the website.
- Two photos as required
- A photocopy of your current study permit
- Bank statement to prove the financial support
- Current school enrollment letter
- Original of your most recent transcript
- Valid passport
- Mail your TRV application package to any of the six Canadian Visa Offices in US. Please note that you need to include your passport in the package, therefore express/registered mail is recommended. If you have a valid US visa, you can apply in person at any Canadian Visa Offices. For more information about visa offices, please visit the website.
- Hold a valid study permit issued for six months or longer
- Have been taking academic courses at Douglas College or a participating post-secondary institution for at least six out of the past 12 months (including co-op work terms)
- Have maintained satisfactory academic standing in your program of study
- Extend your study permit
- Extend your study permit and the visitor records, study permits, or work permits of your dependants
- Apply for or extend an off-campus work permit
- Apply for restoration of student status (if your permits have expired before you apply)
- Have your passport and study permit handy when you apply online.
- Plan to spend about an hour completing the application.
- Try to use a high-speed Internet connection for the application.
- Not sure of your answers? Complete the application. Save your answers. Print the summary page and bring the page to a meeting with an International student advisor. You must complete and submit your application for study permit extension within 60 days of beginning the online application.
- When you are asked how long you want to extend your stay in Canada, be sure to give a date that corresponds with the date you will complete your studies, plus three months. You are allowed to stay in Canada for three months beyond the completion of your studies to look for work.
- Official letter confirming your student status and the expected duration of your program. You can request this letter from the Douglas International Office, (proof of enrolment letter).
- Proof of funds, which could include:
- A letter from your bank or employer;
- Evidence of scholarships, fellowships, or teaching or research assistantship appointments;
- Proof of sponsorship from an individual or institution.
- Scan of your passport including your photo page plus all stamps made in your passport for entries to Canada.
- Proof that you paid your application fee ($125).
- You can pay online with a credit card through the CIC website as part of the online application process.
- You may choose to pay your application fee in cash, at a bank. To pay at a bank, pick up a receipt form at Douglas International office or ask CIC to mail one to you, then scan and upload a copy of the bank receipt as part of your online application, or mail copy 2 of the bank receipt as part of your paper application.
- You are not authorized to attend classes or work while you are out of status.
- You may attend class and continue on-campus employment, if authorized, only after you have received your new study permit.
Extending study permits in Canada
To extend your study permit, you can apply online through the CIC secure website MyCIC. Applying online will save you time and money.
You can use MyCIC to:
Be sure to complete and send your online application before the expiration of your current permit.
Helpful hints for study permit extension applications
As part of your application, you will need to upload the following in PDF format:
Expired study permits: implied status
If your permit expires while you are waiting for CIC to process your application for renewal, you have implied status in Canada until you receive a response. It is important that you remain in Canada while you have implied status. You may be unable to re-enter Canada without a valid permit.
With implied status, you may continue to study and to work on campus, if authorized.
Expired study permits: restoration of status
If your permit expires before you submit your application for renewal, you will be considered out of status. In this case, your immigration status must be restored. You willl have to pay a restoration fee of $200 on top of the standard $125 renewal fee. You have 90 days from the day you went out of status to apply for restoration.
You can apply for restoration online or by using a paper application. An International Student Advisor can review your application before you submit it.
If your permit expired more than 90 days ago and you have not yet applied to renew it, you will be unable to renew your existing permit. You will have to apply for a new permit (outside of Canada), and you might be barred from applying for up to six months. Speak to one of our International student advisors, if you are in this situation.
Transferring from another institution
If you already have a valid permit for post-secondary study in Canada, you may use it at Douglas College (unless otherwise noted on the study permit). As a post-secondary student, you can transfer between programs of study and institutions without applying to change the conditions of your study permit. You can also transfer between public and private institutions. However, if you are studying in a high school and your study permit is only good for secondary school, you must apply for a new study permit with a condition change, which will allow you to study in a post secondary institution legally.
Applying Entry Visa
You can apply for a Temporary Resident Visa from a Canadian Consulate or Embassy office outside Canada. If you prefer to apply and receive your new TRV for your next entry back to Canada before you leave, you can send the required application document including your passport to the Canadian Consulate offices in US and wait for your TRV to be sent back by mail or you can apply in person at the Canadian Consulate office in US if you have a valid entry visa to enter US. You can also apply for your TRV in your home country where there is a Canadian Embassy or consulate office provided your passport and Study permit are valid for more than 6 months.
Applying Temporary Resident Visa from a Canadian Consulate office in US by mail
Have your passport and valid study permit ready. You cannot apply for TRV without a valid study permit. If your study permit expires soon, you need to extend your study permit first. Upon receiving the new study permit, you can apply for new TRV.
Applying for an off-campus work permit
Off-campus work permits
Eligible international students attending participating post-secondary institutions can apply to work off campus while they complete their studies.
Who is eligible for an off-campus work permit?
To be eligible for an off-campus work permit, you must:
You are not eligible to apply for an off-campus work permit if you have previously held an off-campus work permit, failed to maintain your eligibility, and failed to surrender your work permit. (However, if you became ineligible for the program and surrendered your work permit, you may reapply for a work permit if you meet the eligibility requirements at a later date.)
How do I apply for the off-campus work permit?
If you are applying for an off-campus work permit but you also need to extend your study permit, you can apply for both documents online at the same time. Just indicate in the application that you are applying for both permits, and attach all relevant documents and fees.
You must have your work permit before you can begin working. Processing time is currently two to three weeks.
You will apply online for your off-campus work permit through CIC's MyCIC portal.
Applying online
Have your passport and study permit available, and plan to spend at least an hour completing your online application.
