Study Permit, Entry VISA and Passport

Initial Study Permit, TRV (Entry VISA) from outside of Canada and entering Canada 

The procedures for obtaining a Study Permit and/or TRV will vary somewhat, depending on your country of citizenship and where you apply (see list of Canadian embassies and consulates). Applications are available for download from the Citizenship & Immigration Canada website. This process can take up to three months. You will need the following for obtaining a Study Permit and/or TRV:

• A valid passport (not always required of U.S. citizens). Be sure to renew your passport well before it expires, as visas cannot be issued beyond the expiry date of the passport;
• C$125 fee (subject to change);
• Evidence of admittance to UOIT. This is your letter of acceptance signed by an officer of UOIT, offering you unconditional admission to the program;
• Evidence of sufficient funds. You must demonstrate (with a bank statement, savings account passbook, bank draft or other proof)sufficient funds to cover tuition and related living costs during your period of study for you and any accompanying family members; and
• A medical exam may be required depending on the country that you are from.

For students coming from China, please see this video.

Once the student gets the new Study Permit, they can apply for an entry visa TRV (if required) as Citizenship and Immigration Canada tends to tie the two dates of the documents together. 

Arriving at the Canadian Port of Entry

Once your application is accepted, the embassy/consulate/immigration office will provide you with a Letter of Introduction (contains Study Permit reference number) and Temporary Resident VISA, if required. Make sure your name is spelled correctly and that all dates and other information are correct. If anything is wrong, insist that Citizenship & Immigration Canada amend the document BEFORE you leave for (or enter) Canada.

As you enter Canada:

1. Canadian Immigration

Before you present yourself to the immigration officer, ensure that you have the following relevant documentation ready:

• Letter of Introduction from the Canadian Consulate or High Commission;
• Valid passport, with TRV, if required;
• Original or copy of letter of acceptance from UOIT;
• Evidence of financial support;
• List of items which you are sending separately (have the list stamped by immigration);
• Letters of reference or other documents recommended by the Canadian High Commission, Embassy or Consulate; and
• Carry these items and all other valuable papers, cash and traveller's cheques on your person rather than in hand baggage or checked baggage.

Respond to any questions that you are asked with simple and clear answers. Service is available in both English and French. Interpreters for other languages are available at request and if you are not able to understand questions clearly, do ask for one.

2. Canadian Customs:

The Canadian Border Services Agency is responsible for customs. Detailed information about Canada Customs regulations is available from the Canadian Embassy or High Commission in your country. The Canadian government places no restrictions on a reasonable amount of clothing, books or other items for your personal use. However, only limited quantities of items such as alcohol and tobacco are allowed. If you plan to bring any electrical equipment, you should note that the Canadian current is 110-120 volts or 60 Hertz. You may bring all personal effects into Canada duty-free. We suggest that you make a list of all the items you are bringing, including serial numbers of cameras, stereos and computers and the approximate value of each.

Renewal of Study Permit from within Canada

A Study Permit is the document attached to your passport that allows you to study in Canada. Your Study Permit must be valid for you to study at the University Of Ontario Institute Of Technology.

You can and should renew your Study Permit from within Canada. You need to renew your Study Permit at least three months before it expires, but not too early or too late. The cost to renew a Study Permit is $125.00. Ideally you want to renew your Study Permit 30-90 days before it expires.

There are two ways to renew your Study Permit. Please note that application processing time is different for different categories. You can check the processing time of your application in this website.

1. Apply On-line

2. Apply by mail

1. To Apply On-Line

1. All the pages in your passport that have a stamp, a visa, or a mark of any kind, make sure you remember to include the front and back pages, and your study permit, entry visa (TRV), and/or work permit

2. Verification of Enrollment letter from UOIT International**

3. Transcripts (from the Registrar's Office)

4. Proof of financial support (letter from your bank - it should show approximately $5,000, or one year's living expenses; or a letter from your parents stating that they support you and proof of their financial situation)

5. You must pay $125.00 with a credit card, or scan the completed and stamped bank payment form - the pink receipt (IMM 5401). You can get this receipt from your International Student Advisor.

6. Scan these documents in JPEG format and then save them as PDF

**Please Note:

In order to receive a Verification of Enrollment letter, you must present UOIT International with the following:

• an international student registration form available from UOIT International;
• a completed letter request form 
• UOIT student ID card.

You will be unable to order a letter if one or more of the following applies:

• You have a hold on your student account (i.e. outstanding fees owing, etc.);
• UOIT International does not have a current registration form completed by you.

In most cases letter requests will be processed in two business days; however, during busy periods this process may take longer. When complete, letters will be available for pick up from UOIT International or may be scanned and emailed or mailed upon request.

2. To Apply by Mail

1. Complete application (IMM 1249E)

2. Complete document checklist

3. Proof of financial support while you study in Canada:

You must prove you have enough money (in Canadian funds) to support yourself while you study in Canada. This can include:

• a bank statement or a letter from a Canadian bank showing how much money you have in your bank account (must indicate your name and the account number);
• a copy of the letter giving the details about your scholarship or Canadian-funded educational program (such as a CIDA program);
• a letter from a person (describe the relationship to you) who is giving you financial help, explaining the arrangements made for your expenses. (This information is protected under the Privacy Act and cannot be released to a third party without your sponsor's consent.)

Documents to be sent:

1. Confirmation of Enrolment letter (You can collect it from the International Student Advisor)

2. Transcripts

3. Photocopy of Passport and valid Study Permit

4. Payment receipt(you can pay online and print one, or come to the International Student Advisor's office and get one to pay at any bank)

Send this application via registered mail to Vegreville:

Citizenship and Immigration - Study Permit
Case Processing Centre
6212 - 55th Avenue, Unit 101
Vegreville, ABT9C 1X5

Renewal of your Temporary Resident's Visa (TRV) from within Canada

  You need a valid TRV to re-enter Canada. You can apply for a new TRV at aCanadian consulate, embassy or high commission outside of Canada.

 TRV Exemption Policy: If you are returning to Canada following a visit solely to the United States there is an agreement between the U.S. and Canada that allows you to return to Canada provided you have a valid passport and Study Permit, Work Permit, or Visitor Permit. Please note that if you are travelling by air we strongly recommend that you have a Temporary Resident Visa in your passport to avoid any delays or refusals by the airline to board your flight.

NOTE:

1. Citizens from specified countries are subject to a mandatory wait period.
2. Passport should be valid for at least 3 months from your intended date of arrival in Canada.
3. UOIT International staff will review your completed application and accompanying documents before you mail them.

The application kit is available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

To apply for a Temporary Resident Visa:

1. apply a minimum of 6 weeks before your departure date
2. read the Instruction Guide
3. read the TRV instructions
4. Document Checklist
5. Family Information -Each applicant applying for a TRV, aged 18 and over, must complete the Family Information form [IMM5645].
6. Application Form - each applicant must complete a TRV application form. All persons that answered "yes" to any of questions 3 through 7 in the Background Information Section of the Application Form must complete the Schedule 1 and include it with the application.
7. Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union [IMM5409] (if applicable)
8. Use of a Representative [IMM5476](optional)
9. Official UOIT transcript from the Registrar's Office
10. Original passport
11. Photocopy of your immigration document e.g. Study Permit, Work Permit, Visitor Permit.
12. Official letter from the UOIT International confirming registration for current term and past academic terms, duration of degree program, and anticipated completion date if you are a student or official letter from your employer confirming you are employed, for example, as a visiting scholar or post-doctoral student.
13. proof of funds available: bank statement with your name & account number / funding letter or contract signed by your department indicating current and anticipated funding for Research Assistantship, Teaching Assistantship, Graduate Research Studentship; scholarship / funding letter from government or agency sponsorship
14. 2 passport sized photographs
15. money order, bank draft or cashier's cheque for the fee made payable to the "Consulate General Canada" (Receiver General for Canada)
16. Follow the mailing instructions:

Use Canada Post's Xpresspost-National service for the submission of your application and passport. You should also provide a pre-paid Xpresspost-National envelope for the return of your passport.

• Purchase two prepaid 24 x 32 cm (no smaller) Xpresspost - National envelopes at any Canada Post retail outlet (DO NOT purchase " Xpresspost - USA" envelopes)
• Use one to send your application package to us; the second is for us to return your passport and supporting documents.
• Complete the mailing label on the return envelope showing your full mailing address in the "Deliver To" field and the Fort Erie Post Office box address (below) in the "Return Address" field.
• Make a note of the tracking number for each envelope.
• Send your application, passport, supporting documents and the return envelope to:

Canadian Consulate General 
Immigration Regional Program Centre 
P.O. Box 660 
Fort Erie, Ontario 
L2A 6R6

Consulate General has made arrangements to have your application package and passport collected in Canada. Your passport and supporting documents will be mailed back to you from Canada.

The Post Office in Fort Erie will not accept commercial courier deliveries.

** Make copies of everything that you are sending and keep them in a safe place.

Use the e-mail address below ONLY for General Enquiries:

E-mail :buffalo-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca

Renewing your passport

You must arrange to renew your passport at least 6 months before its expiration date. This process varies from country to country. You will have to contact the Embassies, High Commissioner Consulate of your nation in order to find out requisites, processing time, costs, etc.

Once you have renewed your passport, you must then renew your study permit, and, if you are planning to travel, your entry visa.