Third year uni in Canada - visa issues

We’re still waiting. Has anyone heard anything today?

No help from either Canadian or UK Uni, although I’m not sure what they can do. DD has asked Canadian uni what happens if she misses enrollment date, waiting to hear back. Have been watching the Reddit thread mentioned earlier and there does seem to be some movement in the last few days. It’s frustrating as she was only able to apply for the permit once the Canadian uni issued formal acceptance and that took months after securing the exchange place from the home uni.

Great news, thanks for updating, hope your YP has a fantastic time. Think we just have to wait it out, which may mean missing induction etc and start of term and also have to negotiate changing flight dates. 🤞🏻for everyone

Fabulous news @angelboysmummy! it’s good to hear that some are getting approved. I hope you YP has a brilliant year.

We have a permit!! Don’t know if it was because of my begging web form that had completed this morning or it was just going to happen anyway. But it has been issued and we have printed it before it somehow disappeared. No update on the tracker account to indicate this just the proper IRCC account. Has taken 12 weeks exactly to get this.
i am truly keeping my fingers crossed for everyone else waiting to hope they get sorted in time.
YP at work tonight otherwise would have been celebrating!
lots of hugs and tears as reality setting in that heading away next week-but so happy.

Oh no then this is just another thing that may end up going wrong for him. I am sorry to hear about the previous let down also

We have discussed the change to an ETA then apply when in Canada but have decided the risk of something going wrong part way through studying after everything else is not something want to experience.
its of course the full implications if they can’t go-their CVs not having that different element to it to make them slightly standout. No accommodation for third year. Possibility of poor module choice for third year. Had to give up their job.
i can’t remember ever being so frustrated at something before!

Lots of worldwide comments on this Reddit thread. But as far as I can see last UK study permit approved yesterday after applying on17th May.

Study permit megathread

Is it his third year at a Canadian university? I only have experience of us uni’s but normally they get a visa for the full course? What did he do the last two years?

eta oh I think from your other posts it’s a “year abroad”?, so he’s done the first two year at a uk uni? That makes more sense!

That was a great idea to try and see someone. We are up North or I would have done that also

Same problem with my YP. Applied 23rd May with biometrics 28th and uploaded 29th. Stuck in background verification. My MP has taken some more details yesterday. Host university not answering emails to find out when we need to let them know if not attending. Residence fees due this Friday which I am reluctant to pay. Accounts office wouldn’t say if would waive the late fee but in scheme of things that’s tiny amount of what already paid out on flights etc. home university just says keep in touch with us. No guidance if can’t go.
one if the key reasons in choosing course he did was this opportunity and looks like another kick in the teeth to the ones who had to deal with COVID for their GCSEs and trips missed (hate to mention that word but it just hangs over everything)

And yes, was the ETA. This was advised by the Canada university.

@Radiatorvalves Yes, that's right. It was a bit stressful trying to sort out the second semester but all worked out brilliantly in the end. Hope your son gets everything worked out x

I did a year in America and didn’t have a student visa when I started (I had a temp working one as had done camp America) and was able to get it while I was there - is this possible?

My daughter recently completed her third year, which was an international year abroad. She was supposed to spend the year in Canada but due to difficulties getting visas on time the Canadian university decided to only allow visiting students to come for one semester rather than the full year, as you don't need a full student visa for the shorter stay. It was a pain at the time, but ultimately she ended up spending one semester in Canada and a second semester at university in Australia, which was fantastic!

I think Canada decided to reduce the number of student visas from 2024 which may in part be a reason for these delays.

DS joined a Canadian High School last year and we went through exactly the same thing. He actually went out to Canada for a 2 week camp in August and we were hoping the visa would come through whilst he was there, in which case he was planning on getting a flight out to the US and then returning straight away, so he could get the visa issued in the airport on his return. As it was he returned to the UK and we were informed the visa had been approved the following day, so he flew back to Canada 2 days later.
His school couldn't do anything, but they were prepared to let him go there and attend classes, without being an official student. Fortunately the visa came through so we didn't have to consider this option, although he did end up missing the first 3 weeks of the term.
The actual process of getting the visa issued at the airport on arrival was fairly straight forward, you just go to a big waiting room, hand in all your papers and wait around for a couple of hours. No interview or forms to fill in.

Thanks for the update. We’re also checking with home institution as to understand what, if any support is available should visas not come through and enrolment dates are missed in Canada (16/9). has anyone had advice from home unis?

I seem to remember dd’s came through pretty late, a few years ago now.