Canadian Student Authorization Selection Process

The following information will be useful to people who apply for Canadian Student Authorizations (student visas). It is important to understand all of this information before applying for a Student Authorization.

When reviewing student applications, the visa officer must be satisfied in two basic areas:

1) Does the student have the financial resources to support international studies?

2) Will the student return to the home country after completing their studies?

Financial Resources

Regarding financial backing, the visa officer will evaluate the following considerations:

A) Income

The applicant must be able to demonstrate that he/she, or the family has enough money to study in Canada. Normally, the annual family income should be the equivalent of at least CAD$40,000. The cost of the course related to the family income will be taken into consideration.

B) Liquidity and Net Worth

These are also important considerations. Proof of such assets is through tax returns, bank statements, etc. In some countries, people often understate their net worth on tax returns. This causes a problem when the same document is being used to prove a high level of net worth for study purposes.

C) Lines of Credit or Scholarships

If the studies are supported by lines of credit or scholarships, proof of this financial backing must be demonstrated at the time of application. Pre-payment for courses sometimes helps but if a visa is refused it can be inconvenient to receive a refund.

D) Family Living in Canada

If a relative currently living in Canada is providing financial support in the form of accommodation etc., the applicant must include an explanation and proof of financial worth from the sponsoring family member. The application should also include the sponsor's official status in Canada (i.e. citizen, landed immigrant, etc). If it is determined that a Canadian sponsor letter is from someone who themselves had applied for refugee status, the application might be rejected. It is usually considered undesirable to have relatives currently living in Canada. This is because the visitors who have relatives in Canada sometimes do not leave when they should.

E) Types of Study

The refusal rate is lower for longer-term academic study at academic or technical institutions. Visa officers more closely review applications for short-term study. Technically, a Student Authorization can be issued for a part-time VEC course because VEC is registered with the government of British Columbia. Some embassies, however, will not issue Student Authorizations for part-time language courses.

The ability for a young professional to leave their academic or professional life for short-term language studies abroad is considered to be somewhat of a luxury. Students must prove to the visa officer that they have sufficient financial resources and/or a strong professional need for second language training.

• General Information About Canadian Visa Requirements
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