- tep1
Check the expiration date on your student visa for Canada. You need to apply for an extension for your student visa before this expiration date. The Canadian Immigration Office recommends that you start the process for extending your student visa 30 days before your current visa expires.
- Step2
Ensure your passport is still valid for the length of time you are requesting the student visa extension. You cannot extend your student visa if your passport will expire during that period. If your passport will be expiring soon, visit your local consulate or embassy to renew your passport.
- Step3
Gather the required documentation you will need to extend your student visa. You are required to submit a copy of your university admission letter showing you will be enrolled in a Canadian university during the length of your visa extension period. In addition, you will need a copy of your passport and current student visa. You will also need to provide proof that you can support yourself in Canada by sending a copy of your bank statements or financial aid documents.
- Step4
Visit the website of the Canadian Immigration Office and download the Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada. (A link to the form is provided below under Resources.)
- Step5
Fill out the form with the required information. Check "Box A" at the top of the form--this indicates that you are applying for an extension of your current student visa. You will also need to enter your name, birth date, citizenship, passport number and expiration date, marital status and your address in Canada. If you have any family members staying with you in Canada, enter their information in the appropriate boxes. Check the "I agree" box at the end and sign and date the form.
- Step6
Print two copies of the form and keep one for your records.
- Step7
Pay the processing fee of $125 Canadian dollars (as of 2009). Pay online with a Visa, MasterCard or American Express by visiting the Canadian Immigration website and clicking "Pay my application fees" on its homepage. The website will guide you through the process. After you have submitted payment, the website will display a receipt. Print this receipt and include it with your application.
- Step8
Put all the required documents in a 9-inch by 12-inch envelope. Include the completed application form, all supporting documents gathered in Step 3 and the payment receipt obtained in Step 7. Address the envelope to:
Citizenship and Immigration - Study Permit
Case Processing Centre
6212 - 55th Avenue, Unit 101
Vegreville, AB
T9C 1X5
Pay the proper postage and mail the envelope at your local post office. - Step9
Wait for a written response from the Canadian Immigration Office. If your student visa extension is approved, you will receive a new visa in the mail to put into your passport. If your request is denied, you will receive a letter explaining the decision. In this case, you must leave Canada by the date on your current visa.
Tips & Warnings- If you have any questions during the process of extending your student visa for Canada, contact the Canadian Immigration call center at (888) 242-2100. This system is open 24/7 and you can request the status of your application.
Friday, October 9, 2009
How to Extend a Student Visa for Canada
Canada is a popular destination for students looking to study abroad. According to the Canadian Immigration Office, more than 130,000 international students study in Canada each year. If you are already studying in Canada and decide you wish to extend your stay, you will need to apply for an extension to your student visa before your current visa expires. The application process is relatively simple, but you will need to show proof that you will be enrolled in a Canadian college or university during the period of your student visa extension.
