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Canada Study Visa

Most International students require a study visa to be able to study for any programme that is 9 months duration or more.
The first step to obtaining a Canadian Study visa is to get admitted into a designated learning institution in Canada.

A designated learning institution is an institution that has been approved by provincial or territorial government to host international students. All of such institutions are assigned a number which the institution must display on the offer of admission to international students.

Generally speaking the admission process is easier when applying to colleges than when applying to Universities.

To apply to a college, you should have the following documents;
1. Your high school results (if applying to a certificate or diploma program)
3.  Your BSc transcript (if applying to a postgraduate certificate or post graduate diploma program)
3.  $100CAD application fees
4.  International passport for identification

To apply to a University
1. Your high school result (if applying to an undergraduate program)
2. $100 CAD application fees
3. Your BSc transcript (if applying to a postgraduate degree)
4. Research Statement (if applying to a post graduate degree)
5. 2 Academic reference letters

Most programs in Canada have 3 intakes in a year:
1. Winter (starts January)
2. Spring (starts May)
3. Fall (starts september)

You should make sure that you submit your application with the application fees by the deadline stated by your institution of choice.

Then you wait for a decision to be made on your application. When a decision is reached, you will be notified through the email that you filled on your application form.

The offer letter will contain details about your intended program such as the start date, duration and tuition cost. The letter will also contain an amount called the tuition deposit that you need to pay to secure a seat on that program. This deposit will be deducted from your final tuition.
After the school receives the tuition deposit, you will be given an unconditional acceptance letter. This is what you need to apply for your study visa.

When applying for a Canadian study visa you need to convince the visa officer of a few things;
1. That you are coming into Canada genuinely study
2. That you have been accepted into a program in a designated learning institution.
3. That you have enough money to take care of your tuition and living expenses at least for the first academic year.
4. That you intend to leave Canada at the end of your studies.

To convince a visa officer can be very tricky at times but with the right documents it can also be very easy.

What to do;
1. If you are from a third world or a developing country, pay at least your 1st semester tuition before applying for the study visa.

2. Show that you have strong connection to your home country that will make you return (even if you don't plan to return). Your connection can be your parents, a business, a job, Spouse or children, real estate etc

3. Show that you have enough money to sponsor your education and living costs. You should provide bank statements that have enough money to cover your first year's tuition + $10,000. If you intend to take dependents with you, you will need to show more funds for each additional dependent going with you. Bank statements doesn't necessarily have to be the visa applicants, you can use bank statements from family eg parents, siblings, spouse, uncle, aunties etc but they must be accompanied with letter of explanation explaining the relationship to the visa applicant.

4.  Another very important part of the visa application is the statement of purpose by the applicant. This is the part where you need to show your passion or why you are interested in the program that you have chosen to study. Give it your best shot.

5. Please do not lie on your application, do not misrepresent your self especially if you have been denied a visa to Canada or another country previously or you could get yourself a visa ban for 5 years.


Feel free to leave your comments and questions.

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