Citizenship on Student visa

[Bizenjo]

Please temme the criteria to get Citizenship on Student visa, Actually i want to go for my Undergraduation and a friend of mine in Toronto told me that i have to complete a degree first to apply for work permit , It means after 4 years i could apply for Work permit and then for Citizenship , Please clarify because i have heard that rules of getting Canadian citizenship had become flexible now a days ??

[newtone]

Please temme the criteria to get Citizenship on Student visa, Actually i want to go for my Undergraduation and a friend of mine in Toronto told me that i have to complete a degree first to apply for work permit , It means after 4 years i could apply for Work permit and then for Citizenship , Please clarify because i have heard that rules of getting Canadian citizenship had become flexible now a days ??

You cannot get citizenship on Student visa. Once finish your undergrad you have to leave Canada. Alternatively if you have enough points you can apply as a skilled worker class. Once you've arrived here as a landed immigrant and obtain your PR card you have to physically spend 1095 days or 3 years, once you've completed that you can apply for Canadian citizenship

[Leon]

You don't have to leave after undergrad.  You have an option to apply for a post-graduate open work permit.  If you studied for 2 or more years, you can get a post-grad work permit for 3 years.  In some provinces you can apply for PR under PNP graduate class with a degree and a job offer.  Otherwise, your employer may sponsor you under PNP employer driven stream.  Otherwise, you can work for a year and then apply under CEC.

Once you have PR, you have to live in Canada for 2-3 years before you can apply for citizenship.

[Bizenjo]

You mean in the period of my under grad it isn't possible to get citizenship ? and after UG i have to work for some years ??

[Leon]

You mean in the period of my under grad it isn't possible to get citizenship ? and after UG i have to work for some years ??

You don't have to work for some years.  If you can apply through PNP graduate class, you only need a job offer and probably work for that employer until you get your PR.  If you apply through CEC, you have to work full time for a year after you graduate.  After you get your PR, you can do what you want.

If you want to apply sooner, you have to qualify for something.  Do you have another degree and work experience already?  If you have experience in one of the 29 occupations listed by the skilled worker program, you can apply for PR through that right now, even if you are currently a student.  You could also ditch your studies if you find an employer who will sponsor you for a work permit and apply for your PR through PNP.  If you find yourself a spouse and get married, your spouse can also sponsor you for PR.

If your only angle to apply is your studies, then my original reply stands.

Also make a note that PR is not the same as citizenship.  You can lose your PR again if you leave Canada for too long.  To get citizenship, you have to live in Canada for 2-3 years after you get your PR and after you apply for citizenship, you probably wait about a year before you get it.

[Bizenjo]

If i go to a college for diploma for instance 3 years diploma and then transfer to a university for UnderGraduation ,would it be possible to apply for PR after completing diploma ??

[Leon]

There are currently programs under the PNP's of Ontario and BC that allow certain Masters and PhD students to apply for their immigration, even without a job offer.  You can look into that.  Apart from there, no special immigration class for people who study in Canada for 3 years.

[ehsanelahi]

Dear sir,
                Hope you are fine and doing quite well. i took my ielts exam on 25 june 2011. i secured 6 bands in it. Now i intended to apply for ACCA course in LBSF (London School of Business and Finance toronto. My bank statement is $ 22200 on my name. I got Above 80% in my academic life. I did matric and F.Sc From Edwardes college peshawar estlished by English. CAn i get visa of canada. Please kindly give me some information regarding this
                      thanks alot
Best regardes
Ehsanelahi

[scylla]

Dear sir,
                Hope you are fine and doing quite well. i took my ielts exam on 25 june 2011. i secured 6 bands in it. Now i intended to apply for ACCA course in LBSF (London School of Business and Finance toronto. My bank statement is $ 22200 on my name. I got Above 80% in my academic life. I did matric and F.Sc From Edwardes college peshawar estlished by English. CAn i get visa of canada. Please kindly give me some information regarding this
                      thanks alot
Best regardes
Ehsanelahi

You should post your question to the student visa section of this forum.

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/international-students-b2.0/