Immigration Information for School of Continuing Studies

The following information was prepared by a licensed immigration professional in compliance with Immigration information may change without notice and it is your responsibility to refer to for the most up-to-date information and to be sure you meet the eligibility criteria. IRCC is the authoritative source for immigration legislation, policies, instructions and information.

Initial Study Permit and Entry Visa/eTA

is required for any program that is over 6 months. The process can be quite lengthy, so you should start your application as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance.

If you are taking an ESL program as a pre-requisite to a degree program at 91��ɫ, you should apply for a study permit before coming to Canada even if your ESL program is 6 months or less.

You will also need a visa or eTA to come to Canada. When you apply for your study permit from outside Canada, you will be issued a visa/eTA if your study permit is approved.

This depends on your country of citizenship. .

Please visit the following websites to learn about visas, study permits and how to apply:

91��ɫ International information on study permits and entry visas and eTAs
91��ɫ International immigration application resources

Should you have specific questions, you can attend an information session provided by 91��ɫ International.

To avoid study permit delays, we recommend you apply as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance to the School of Continuing Studies. Unfortunately, it is not possible to expedite applications to IRCC. If your application has already exceeded the normal , you may request an update on your application by submitting an .

As of October 1, 2022, Canada has removed all COVID-19 border requirements, including vaccination, testing and quarantine/isolation.

Prepare all the paperwork required to come to Canada. Please see 91��ɫ International’s document overview for details. Ensure your program fees are paid in full. Please also refer to the IRCC’s information regarding how early you can arrive and what to expect at the border.

We understand that there have been significant delays in visa and study permit applications. It is important to make a decision that works for you and meets all the policy deadlines.

You may request to defer your enrollment to the next available intake by completing the . This must be done as soon as possible and before the program starts (see ). As there is no guarantee that space will be available in the next intake, please submit your deferral request as soon as possible. There are no refunds or funds exchange during the deferral process. Please note that deferral requests are not accepted via email.
You may request to withdraw your enrollment by completing the . To receive a full refund of tuition paid (less the deposit), you must withdraw before the start date of the program. After the start date of the program, no payments will be refunded. The date on which you withdraw from the program through the form submission, is the effective date used for determining refunds. Please note that deferral requests are not accepted via email.

Please note that if you defer your enrolment, you should notify IRCC if possible. See 91��ɫ International’s study permit delay FAQ for information on notifying IRCC of a deferral.

Working On/Off Campus

As a study permit holder, your priority must be on succeeding in your courses. However, if you are eligible and able to manage your time well, you may also work either on campus, off campus or both.

To be eligible to work on campus, you must be in a full-time program, have a valid study permit that allows you to work on-campus and/or off-campus and have a valid Social Insurance Number. To work off campus, you must meet all of these requirements plus be in a program that is at least 6 months long and leads to a certificate, degree or diploma. You cannot start working until your program has started. It is your responsibility to make sure you do not exceed the limit to the number of hours you can work.

The number of hours is calculated by week. For example, if your work week starts on Monday, you should consistently count your hours from Monday to Sunday in figuring out how many hours you worked. If you work fewer hours one week, this does not entitle you to extra working hours the next. The maximums are always per calendar week. It is your responsibility to make sure you do not exceed the limit to the number of hours you can work.

There is no limit to on-campus work for eligible students.

For off-campus work, you can work up to 24 hours per week while classes are in session.

During a scheduled break, you are allowed to work unlimited hours. According to , a "scheduled break" must be part of the designated learning institution's (DLI) . At the School of Continuing Studies, the break between courses does not qualify as a scheduled break. However, the winter break from December 24 - January 1 is considered a scheduled break.

On-campus work is any employment facility located within the campus boundaries of 91��ɫ, including both the Keele and Glendon campuses. The employer can be 91��ɫ, any Faculty, a student organization, a private business (including the restaurants located on the 91��ɫ campus), or a private contractor providing services to 91��ɫ on campus. Self-employment taking place on campus is also considered on-campus work.

There is no fee for a SIN. You can apply in person at a Service Canada Centre or you can apply online. You will need your study permit with the condition that you “may accept employment” or “may work” as well as your passport. If you are applying in person, you must bring the original documents. To apply online or find your nearest Services Canada Centre, see .

If you’re if you meet all of the criteria below:

You were eligible to work off-campus in your previous program,
You have a valid study permit (or applied to extend it before it expired),
You have written confirmation that you completed your previous program,
You have a letter of acceptance to a new full-time program at 91��ɫ or another DLI, and
You are starting your new program within 150 days of receiving confirmation of completing your previous program.

Extending your Study Permit and Visa

If you need more time on your study permit to finish your program or to obtain the documents you need for a PGWP application (bridging extension), you should apply to extend your study permit. We recommend you apply to extend your study permit 3 months in advance. As long as you apply to extend your study permit before its expiry, you will have “maintained status” until a decision is made on your application. This means you can continue to study (and work) under the conditions of your study permit while you wait for a decision.

When you are inside Canada, it is a two-step process to get a new study permit and visa. You must apply to extend your study permit first. Once you have the new study permit, you can apply for a visa in much the same way.

NOTE: IRCC will not issue documents beyond your passport validity. If your passport is expiring, we recommend you renew it 6 months in advance if possible. You will need to contact your nearest consulate/embassy to find out how to renew your passport.

For a study permit extension, you need a letter of enrolment. For the visa, you will also need a transcript (grade report). Both documents can be obtained through your .

For guidance on how to set up an IRCC online account and complete your study permit extension application, please refer to 91��ɫ International’s immigration application resources. Please note that certain slides pertain specifically to degree-seeking undergraduate students and not School of Continuing Studies students.

91��ɫ International hosts regular study permit extension workshops. Before attending, you should review the application resources above. Check the for the next session.

The visa application is much the same as the study permit extension process. With two main differences:

For the first set of questions, select the option to “study” for “temporarily – more than 6 months” (if you choose “visit” it will generate the wrong document checklist).
When you get to the “Your results” page in the IRCC online application system, you will choose “Temporary Resident Visa” instead of selecting “Study Permit (in Canada).”
The document checklist will have the IMM 5257 form and you will be required to provide a transcript.

You can use the same documents you used for your study permit extension application when you are applying for your visa.

We do not recommend you travel while you have an application in process.

Your study permit remains valid if you will start the new (second) program within 150 days of completing the first program. If you need a take a break of longer than 150 days, you must either change your status to visitor or leave Canada.

If your break is 150 days or less, you may be eligible to work between your 2 programs. See more on this under the section Working on/off Campus.

Post-Graduation Work Permit

After you have graduated, you may be eligible for a . This work permit is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to get some Canadian work experience. It may also provide you with the opportunity to gain the work experience required for permanent residency in Canada.

The length of your PGWP depends on your program length. If your program is between 8 months and 2 years long, you would be eligible for a PGWP of up to the same length. If your program is 2 years or longer, you would be eligible for up to 3 years of PGWP.

All full-time certificate programs at 91��ɫ’s School of Continuing Studies are PGWP-eligible if they are at least 8 months long.

The final decision on the length of your PGWP is at the discretion of IRCC. PGWP are issued up to the length of the program. Students in a program that can be completed in 8 months with no academic break may be considered to have completed the equivalent of a 1-year program.

Yes. If you complete two programs within 2 years of each other and both programs are PGWP-eligible, you can apply for a PGWP based on both programs. The length of your PGWP will depend on the combined length of your programs. For example, if you take 2 one-year programs, you would be eligible for a PGWP of up to 3 years.

You need your final transcript (grade report) and letter of completion. You can access these in your by following these steps:
1. Sign into your School of Continuing Studies
2. Find the “Request Official Documents” tab
3. Select the letters and programs you are requesting (please note that only the letters you qualify for requesting will appear). Letters will be emailed to you within 24 hours.

For guidance on how to set up an IRCC online account and complete your PGWP application, please refer to 91��ɫ International’s immigration application resources. Please note that certain slides pertain specifically to undergraduate students.

91��ɫ International hosts workshops on applying for PGWP at the beginning of each term. Before attending you should review the application resources above. Check the for the next session.

You can leave Canada and return, as long as your or is still valid. Your permit (study or work) is not a travel document and doesn't allow you to travel back to Canada.

If your visa or eTA is expired, you have to get a new one before you return to Canada.
When you return to Canada:
• You may enter as a student if your study permit is still valid.
• If your post-graduation work permit is approved while you’re away, you may enter as a worker.
• If IRCC is still processing your post-graduation work permit, you may enter as a visitor, and you can work without a work permit until IRCC makes a decision on your application.

A border officer will have some questions for you when you arrive back in Canada. The officer may ask you for proof that you applied for a post-graduation work permit, such as a copy of your application or the fee payment receipt.

If the officer believes there is reason to refuse your re-entry, you won’t be able to enter Canada.

Graduates of post-graduate certificate programs must demonstrate their English or French language proficiency at university program level when applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Applicants must achieve a minimum score equivalent to:

Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 in English, or
Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in French

in all four language skills:

Speaking
Listening
Reading
Writing

For more information on accepted language tests and proof of language proficiency requirements, please visit the Government of Canada website: .