Going to school while study permit is processing

[rghry]

Hello,

I have a friend who is in quite a bind. She's been in Canada for a few years now, previously as a live-in caregiver, and then got her open work permit. Her Permanent Residence application is processing, and it was submitted over a year ago. Then she was accepted into University and submitted her application for a study permit in September. The study permit application was recently returned because of an error, but it's been resubmitted online and she got assurance it will go through this time on the phone with Canadian Immigration because she's eligible and there's no reason why it shouldn't be rejected this time.

Here's the problem, she's enrolled in courses for January. she paid a non-refundable fee, and will loose her placement if forced to de-enroll. She will loose a lot of time and money. Her study permit will come in 40 days, so late January.

Is it possible to attend courses in January, even if the permit will come a few weeks later? A University administrator told us they won't ask for it right away, so there's no risk there.

Please only post helpful responses... i.e., the consequences, if it will be noticed by the Government, can this slip by, etc.

 

[scylla]

Obviously studying without a study permit is illegal and she will have problems if she's caught (none of us here can tell you what the chances are of being caught).

She shouldn't assume that she will get the study permit for the January intake. The study permit could be refused. There is also a good chance CIC will tell her that she needs to defer her studies to the next semester because she applied too late. They will then ask her to obtain a new letter of acceptance from her school with the new start date for her studies. What will she do if CIC instructs her to defer to the next semester? Continue to study illegally for the rest of the term?

I'm surprised the school won't allow her to defer her studies by one term / semester. What school / program is this? This sounds like something a private college with a bad reputation would do. But you mention the word "university" in your post.

 

[rghry]

Hey,

She was accepted to start in September but was late with sending out her study permit application. the University did allow her to defer to January. so, she's already done one deferral, so that's another reason why she doesn't want to de-enroll right now.

i think I'l tell her to de-enroll but just attend classes anyway. If the permit comes in mid-January just enroll late.

But there is no other way around this?

 

[scylla]

Hey,

She was accepted to start in September but was late with sending out her study permit application. the University did allow her to defer to January. so, she's already done one deferral, so that's another reason why she doesn't want to de-enroll right now.

i think I'l tell her to de-enroll but just attend classes anyway. If the permit comes in mid-January just enroll late.

But there is no other way around this?

Ah - I see.

I'm not sure what you mean by "no way around this". She needs a study permit to study legally. There is no way around that. Is that what you mean?