July 7, 2015

Longer-Than-Average Wait times for Study Permits

School may be out for the summer, but as an Edmonton Journal article by Alexandra Zabjek states, many international students in Alberta are unable to make the most of it yet. The reason?  There are longer-than-average wait times for study permit processing and renewals. Currently, these can be up to three months and are as a result, leaving many foreign nationals in a bind.  The time difference is quite significant considering that in 2014, 80% of  all study permits were processed in approximately 39 days or less.

Without a valid study permit, international students are unable to travel outside of Canada and cannot visit their home countries. If they do, they may face several obstacles upon return, including delays during re-entry or have their university careers put at risk.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) cites the high number of applications they have received, as well as their complexity, as the reasons behind longer wait times. In addition, some applications are completed incorrectly. For this reason, it is important to make sure that all information submitted is correct in order to avoid further delays.

For more information and key tips on study permit applications, please click here.

(Source)