Minor Children Attending School as Visitors

[Slick]

Hello,
Can minor children of visitors attend primary or secondary school in Canada without a study permit?
Not sure if it makes a difference or not, but the children are USC.
Thanks!

[Leon]

It does not matter if they are US citizens.  I think it totally depends on the school if they will allow them.  I know of visitors trying to enroll their kids in school and being denied.  I also know of somebody having a kid visit on a visit visa and enrolling him in school without a problem.

Here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-minors.asp you will find information on study permits for minor children.  It says that minor children of temporary workers or students don't need a study permit, it talks about children not accompanied by parents having a custodian.  However, it does not talk about the possibility of visitors wanting to enroll their kids in school.

[Slick]

Isn't it strange that they allow undocumented students to attend school free, but visitors have to pay???
And it is not cheap!!!

[Leon]

They allow undocumented students?  Who has to pay?  I think you are confusing Canada with the US.  The US has turned a blind eye to illegal immigration to the point that they decided that they will not ask any questions about kids enrolled in schools.  I have also not heard that anybody has been asked to pay to enroll their kids in school in Canada.

The two cases I know of: One I saw on TV, the family had come over on a visit visa hoping to arrange jobs and work permits, not the smartest thing I know.  They tried to enroll their son in school and were told that they had no right to enroll him since they were on visit status.  They were in Manitoba I think.  They were not offered to pay to enroll him, just told that they can't.  The other case was a woman on this forum who was taking care of a foreign boy.  She had enrolled him in school, no questions asked but maybe the school did it because she had status in Canada and she may have had some papers showing she was acting as his guardian.

So.. I think it depends on the school.  If anybody is considering enrolling their kids in school while they are on a visit status.  It might be a good idea to contact some schools and ask.