Study Permit extension

Vahdijalalijavaran

Hello,

I would like to ask a question about the extension of my study permit.

My university announced that they needed my new study permit to pay my scholarship. According to the processing time on the IRCC website, it will take 141 days to process my extension request. Probably my study permit will not be issued on time and I will have to wait for it.

IRCC says in this link, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/travel-outside-canada.html, that I cannot study while waiting for the application to be reviewed.

Can I work part-time during the review period of my application? Or not?

The second question I have is, if I apply for an extension of my study permit before the date it expires, will I be able to travel outside of Canada and reenter the country? Will the current study permit no longer be valid when I apply for an extension of my study permit?

papio

Vahdijalalijavaran I find it strange that your university would want your new study permit to pay your scholarship.

Technically, if you can study while waiting for you new study permit to arrive (which you can), then they should pay you your scholarship too. Because even if you're waiting for you now study permit to arrive, you still maintain the status you previously had.

This is all explained below:
Maintained study permit status during processing (implied status)

Martin

Yes, If you apply for a study permit extension before your current permit expires, you will be able to exit and re-enter Canada (as long as you do it before the expiry of your current permit).

If you apply for a study permit extension, you can continue to study once your current study permit expires. Here is the link to the government website: Extend your study permit

The link you shared doesn't apply to you. That is for people who are outside of Canada when there study permit expires and they decide to extend it.

Linden

Martin This is correct.
I suggest you apply for your study permit extension immediately. If you do travel outside Canada and return when your current permit is valid you should have no problem.

Vahdijalalijavaran

Thanks a lot for your responses papio Linden Martin.
I appreciated your clear answers. There are two more questions I would like to ask:

In order to apply for an extension, there are two different portals: 1) through GCKey and 2) through the new IRCC portal (https://portal-portail.apps.cic.gc.ca/signin?lang=en).
Can you tell me what the differences are between them and which one is quicker and better?
Until 6th January 2024, my acceptance letter will be valid. It is likely that my program will not be completed until the following year. To avoid reapplying for another extension, I may ask my department (not international office) to write an explanation letter to announce a new completion date (for example, September 2024). My cover letter and this letter should explain why a longer study permit is needed. Would this justify the officer's decision to grant me a longer study permit?

Best regards,
Vahid

Martin

Vahdijalalijavaran

Use here to extend your study permit.
You need to get these documents for your study permit extension:
-Certificate of Enrolment – A document showing that you are currently enrolled.
-Letter indicating program completion date.

You should be able to get these documents from your university.

papio

I agree with @Martin
You will need to submit both a Letter of Enrolment and Customized Enrolment Letter for your application

Vahdijalalijavaran

According to this link, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/visitors/implied-status-extending-stay.html,

the border immigration agency can issue a new study permit to me if I demonstrate eligibility when I return to Canada after traveling outside of the country and reentering the country. Could you please tell me if it's right or not?

Happyness

Vahdijalalijavaran Yes, I think it should be fine to do that.
Just keep in mind that it's at the discretion of the officers. Meaning that they decide to issue it at the border or not.
Otherwise, you'll just have to do it from inside Canada.

timbrake

Yes, this is possible.
My suggestion is not to use the land borders for flagpoling (exiting and reentering Canada just to get your permit renewed). There are some certain times you can do that on the land border:
Flagpoling for study permit and work permit renewal days and time

But if you're entering through the airports you should be fine.