Getting Your Study Permit via the Student Direct Stream

Studying in Canada

As traveling becomes more convenient, many foreign nationals have considered about studying abroad. Canada is one of the most popular countries that attracts many foreign students to obtain a valid and prestigious educational credential. As a result, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada has announced the Student Direct Stream to support the growth in study permit applications. In this blog, you will learn about the Student Direct Stream and relevant information about how to apply for a study permit through this stream.

What is the Student Direct Stream

As previously mentioned, the Student Direct Stream is means by which applicants from certain countries can apply for a study permit. The major benefit of this stream is that, applicants may get a decision faster. The reason why this stream exists is that, Canada has acknowledged the cultural, economic, and social values that international students bring to Canada, and wishes to attract more international students to continue adding those values to the country. If students, who are from China, India, Vietnam, or the Philippines, can demonstrate upfront that they have the financial resources and language skills to succeed academically in Canada, they may apply for a study permit through the Student Direct Stream.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada is working on expanding the Student Direct Stream to Africa. More specifically, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada is looking at options in Kenya and Senegal. Expansion to Senegal would be to attract more French-speaking students to Canada.

Required Documents for the Student Direct Stream

First and foremost, applicants will need to provide an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution. A designated learning institution is a post-secondary school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. All primary and secondary schools in Canada are designated learning institutions as well.

Next, applicants will need to undergo a medical exam and provide a proof of that medical exam. The Canadian government wants to ensure the overall health of all citizens and permanent residents of Canada. This is why applicants will need to provide medical exam documentations to demonstrate the fact that, they do not and will not carry any contagious diseases to Canada.

As for the financial component of the application, you will need to provide a proof that you have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000, and a proof that you’ve paid the tuition fees for your first year of study.

Last but not least, you will need to prove that you have graduated from a Canadian curriculum high school. To ensure applicants meet the language requirements for living in Canada, applicants need to provide a language test form showing an IELTS score of at least 6 for English, or a Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens score of at least 7 for French.

What Happens after I Submit my Application

Once you submit your application, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada will start reviewing your application right away. This is when the Student Direct Stream comes in handy. You will get a faster decision, compared to the regular study permit stream. However, the officer finds out that you meet the criteria for the regular study permit stream but not the Student Direct Stream, you application will be reviewed as a regular study permit, but you will not get a faster decision.

If you application gets approved, you will receive a port of entry letter from the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada and a temporary resident visa. This letter is not your study permit. Instead, you will need to carry this letter to the port of entry, alongside your temporary resident visa, to get your actual study permit.

If your application gets refused, you will receive a letter from the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, stating the major reasons why your application has been refused. If you have any concerns about your refusal, you have the right to contact the visa office that has sent you the refusal letter.

In addition, if you change your name, phone number, email, or any contact information after you have submitted your application, you need to immediately contact Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to update your contact information.

Contact Akrami and Associates

In order to pursue a brighter future, studying in Canada is many foreign nationals’ dream and goal. However, you must have a study permit in order to legally study in Canada. Filling applications and preparing for the correct documents can be confusing and, sometimes, overwhelming. Your application can be denied if any vital information is missed or overlooked. Therefore, it is important to have your questions answered by immigration professionals. Talking to experienced immigration professionals not only will ease your concerns about the Canadian immigration progress, but also will allow you to gain more understanding of your own case. Most importantly, immigration professionals have profound knowledge of Canada’s immigration system that can aid the success of your case. Akrami and Associates is an experienced immigration law firm that works with different immigration cases professionally and efficiently. Our goal is to help you enter Canada and obtain your study permit. If you still have questions about how to apply for a study permit through the Student Direct Stream or feel unclear about any aspects of a study permit, please feel free to contact Akrami and Associates at 416-477-2545 or info@thevisa.ca to book a consultation with an immigration expert for further assistance.