Paying for university?

[xxkbxx]

As a newly-landed permanent resident in Canada, what would our possible options be with regards to funding for post-secondary education (university)? Will we be eligible for a student loan from the government, or do we approach a private lending institution/bank...? What have your experiences been with this? Hope someone can help enlighten us. Thank you.

[Leon]

You have the same right to student loans as everybody else.  Ask at your college, they should be able to get you the right forms.

[toby]

Unless the Permanent Resident was sponsored by a spouse, the sponsor had to show enough financial resources to support the new resident, right? Now he/she wants to borrow money?  Can this be?

[Leon]

No, that does not apply in this case.

A sponsor of a spouse does not have to show any funds but they are financially responsible for their spouse for 3 years after they become PR.  That however only applies to social assistance.  Student loans are not considered social assistance.

[xxkbxx]

^ Precisely. We have more than enough for everything else for a year or so to "survive" in Canada with or without a steady job (though of course the principal applicant intends to get one). But as anyone would know, university fees are different and tend to get very pricey. That's why I asked in the first place.

[Karlshammar]

A PR is a PR and that's all there is to it. You could apply both for gov't support and bank loans. It doesn't matter that you are newly landed.

[cono_sur]

No, that does not apply in this case.

A sponsor of a spouse does not have to show any funds but they are financially responsible for their spouse for 3 years after they become PR.  That however only applies to social assistance.  Student loans are not considered social assistance.

This information would've been useful about 5 months ago.