VIU International Travel Risk Management

I am planning to spend my summer vacation (May-August) in my home country, but my Study Permit and Visa will expire while I am abroad. Where should I apply for an extension?

• If you are planning to travel abroad when your Visa and Study Permit is about to expire, extend your Study Permit/Visa from within Canada before you leave.  If you have not applied to extend it before departure, you may apply to the Visa Office responsible for your home country. Please note, processing of your application in a Visa Office may take months to process and you risk missing a significant portion of your semester.

I am planning to travel to my home country but realize that I have misplaced my Study Permit. What should I do?

• You need to apply for the replacement of your Study Permit and pay a $30 fee. For more information please visit:  Government of Canada: Replacement of an Immigration Document

I am a VIU student. I lost my passport and Study Permit. What should I do?

• You need to do the following:

  1. Contact the nearest Police Office and report the lost items. Obtain an Incident Report #.
  2. Contact your country’s Consulate or Embassy and apply for the renewal of your passport.
  3. As soon as you receive your new passport apply for the replacement of your Study Permit.
  4. Once you receive your replacement Study Permit apply for a Temporary Resident Visa.

I am planning to marry and stay in my home country one year or so. How will this affect my Student Permit and Visa?

• If you are taking time off from your studies arbitrarily, the University may include your name in the IRCC (formerly known as CIC) report as a student not actively pursuing his/her studies. IRCC in turn may cancel your Study Permit even if it is valid. Therefore, it is the student’s responsibility to maintain a valid Study Permit.  In such situations, it is highly recommended that you call IRCC’s Call Centre 1-888-242-2100 and verify if your documents are still valid.

I am a BA student and want my mother to come to Nanaimo and stay with me. Should I send my original Study Permit to my mother overseas so she can use it to support her application for a Visitor Visa?

• Your Study Permit is the status document of the student and it should be with student’s passport at all times. If you send the originals of your Study Permit to your parent to add to their Application package, firstly, it will not be returned to you, secondly, it can be canceled by Immigration Officer overseas. Please avoid knowingly or unknowingly committing illegal actions.

I have a US Visa in my passport and my Study Permit expires soon. I am planning a short trip to the USA. Will I be allowed to re-enter Canada?

• As long as your Study Permit is valid, you can safely re-enter Canada and if you prepare your application to extend your Study Permit with all the required documents, you may apply at the border for renewal of your Study Permit too.

I misplaced my Study Permit and applied for replacement and provided copies of all documents, but my application was returned to me stating that it was “incomplete”. What should I do now?

• It is important to read the guidelines on the IRCC web-site for replacement of lost, damaged and destroyed status documents. If you have lost your Study Permit it is important to report it to the Police and obtain an Incident Report number and provide a copy of it to IRCC.

I have applied for an extension of my Study Permit but uploaded the wrong Letter in the section of Letter of Acceptance. Also, I did not check MyCIC account, later found out my application was refused. What should I do now?

• You need to apply within 90 days for Restoration of your Temporary Resident status, meanwhile, you are “out of status” and should stop your studies or work until your application is approved. You were in implied status until your Study Permit extension application was under review, you lost your status from the date the decision (refusal) was made.

I am a VIU student and forgot to extend my Study Permit. I applied for Restoration. What will happen if the Immigration Officer refuses the restoration of my status?

• You will receive a letter of approval if the restoration is granted and your Study Permit will be issued. If the restoration is refused, you will receive a letter explaining the reasons for refusal and you need to leave Canada immediately.

I was accepted into the ECE Program at VIU and applied for a Study Permit extension. Am I required to have a medical exam?

• International Students enrolled in ECE or other programs which require working with children, disabled or elderly people, are required to have a medical exam from the list of IRCC panel physicians. You cannot receive the medical exam from your own doctor. Please note; fees will apply and exam results will be valid for one year.

I am applying for a Study Permit extension. My checklist requires me to have a Medical Exam from a panel physician even though I have been in Canada for two years. What I should do?

• There is a question about Study Permit eligibility regarding “designated countries”.  Most probably you have answered “Yes” to the following questions: 

  • Have you had a medical exam performed by a CIC authorized panel physician (doctor) within the last 12 months? 
  • Have you lived in a designated country or territory for more than six months in the last year? 

  If so, you will be required to go through a medical exam.  Please note; if you lived continuously in Canada last 12 months you do not need a medical exam, unless you have a medical condition or an exceptional situation.

  Designated countries or territories means that the level of Tuberculosis incidence and other infectious diseases are higher than in Canada.

If I apply to extend my Study Permit the day of expiry, would it still be considered that I complied with Study Permit conditions?

• Yes, if you applied on–line the same day as the expiry date or made a paper application with a date stamp with the same date as the expiry date, you have complied with Study Permit requirement. Please note, IRCC advises to apply early, up to three months prior to expiry date.

I am changing institutions, do I need to let the government know?

• Yes, you will need to change your post-secondary school in your account

  To do this, you’ll need:

  • an online account
    • If you applied for your study permit on paper, you need to create an account and then link your application.
  • your study permit number
    • It begins with the letter “S” and is at the top right of the permit.
    • For security reasons, we may ask you to provide a few details from your application, so have it handy.
  • your new school’s designated learning institution (DLI) number
    • You can find it on the list of designated learning institutions
  • your new Student Identification Number (Student ID)
    • You can find it on the acceptance letter your new school sent to you.
  • your start date at your new school.

  You don’t need a representative to change your DLI, even if you used one to apply for your study permit. You can do this yourself if you have your study permit application details.

  Learn how to Change your post-secondary school in your account