Thank you in advance for reading, this is going to be a long one.
I'm 19 and from the United States. I applied late at the University of Windsor and was accepted into a 4 year program six days before the semester started. I had just six days to learn all the immigration laws, so I relied on the international student center (study permit department). I asked them if I would be allowed to study in person while awaiting my study permit's approval, to which they answered affirmatively, saying:
You can take classes while your study permit is in process.
You have the option to attend classes on campus if your classes are being offered in-person.
Please check the mode of instruction for your classes on your course registration.
With this, I entered Canada as a visitor the day after the semester started. I originally planned to stay for two weeks to find a home, get settled in, etc but my study permit application was approved just a week later and I figured I could just get it mailed to me through a pilot program the IRCC had. I had emailed the IRCC, explaining that I was registered at the university but had entered on a visitor permit and needed them to send the permit to my house in Windsor. This whole time (around a month) I was studying on the POE letter, trusting that the University had not misled me.
I later found out I was mistaken when I got impatient and went to a border station and asked that they print off my study permit. They informed me that I was breaking the law by studying without a permit and I panicked. I immediately drove to an Inland station in London, Ontario (only to find it closed) and sought the help of the international student center. After a few days of the worst anxiety of my life, they informed me that I would have to leave Canada and then attempt to get a permit on re-entry.
I did this, spending a day in Detroit and then re entering Canada. Upon re-entry, I explained my situation to the CBSA agent. I told them that I had been attending classes but that the Uni had told me to and that I had been trying to obtain my permit from the inside. After more questioning, he informed me that my request to the IRCC had actually been approved the day before and that I was a foreigner with student status and he allowed me back in to Canada, telling me I was good to continue my studies.
The anxiety this caused me still weighs on me and led me to cancel seeing family over Christmas out of fear of not being able to return. What I am asking is if I have anything to worry about. Is there enforcement action that could be taken against me? If I leave Canada will they deny my re-entry because of my history, even though I am in status and have never violated my study permit conditions? Thank you very much.
Timeline:
I'm 19 and from the United States. I applied late at the University of Windsor and was accepted into a 4 year program six days before the semester started. I had just six days to learn all the immigration laws, so I relied on the international student center (study permit department). I asked them if I would be allowed to study in person while awaiting my study permit's approval, to which they answered affirmatively, saying:
You can take classes while your study permit is in process.
You have the option to attend classes on campus if your classes are being offered in-person.
Please check the mode of instruction for your classes on your course registration.
With this, I entered Canada as a visitor the day after the semester started. I originally planned to stay for two weeks to find a home, get settled in, etc but my study permit application was approved just a week later and I figured I could just get it mailed to me through a pilot program the IRCC had. I had emailed the IRCC, explaining that I was registered at the university but had entered on a visitor permit and needed them to send the permit to my house in Windsor. This whole time (around a month) I was studying on the POE letter, trusting that the University had not misled me.
I later found out I was mistaken when I got impatient and went to a border station and asked that they print off my study permit. They informed me that I was breaking the law by studying without a permit and I panicked. I immediately drove to an Inland station in London, Ontario (only to find it closed) and sought the help of the international student center. After a few days of the worst anxiety of my life, they informed me that I would have to leave Canada and then attempt to get a permit on re-entry.
I did this, spending a day in Detroit and then re entering Canada. Upon re-entry, I explained my situation to the CBSA agent. I told them that I had been attending classes but that the Uni had told me to and that I had been trying to obtain my permit from the inside. After more questioning, he informed me that my request to the IRCC had actually been approved the day before and that I was a foreigner with student status and he allowed me back in to Canada, telling me I was good to continue my studies.
The anxiety this caused me still weighs on me and led me to cancel seeing family over Christmas out of fear of not being able to return. What I am asking is if I have anything to worry about. Is there enforcement action that could be taken against me? If I leave Canada will they deny my re-entry because of my history, even though I am in status and have never violated my study permit conditions? Thank you very much.
Timeline:
- Sept 3: Get accepted into the University
- Sept 4: I ask if I can start classes while awaiting visa, they tell me I can
- Sept 8: Apply for visa
- Sept 10: Enter Canada
- Sept 13: Start school
- Sept 16: Permit approved
- Sept 16: File a request for it to be mailed
- Oct 20: IRCC follows up on request, tells me I need to send them my POE letter. I do.
- Oct 24: File a second request just in case.
- Oct 28: Told by CBSA border agents that I was committing a crime
- Nov. 1 Issued first study permit (without knowing it)
- Nov. 2 Leaves Canada, re-enters
- Nov. 5 Study permit is invalidated, granted a new study permit the same day (for some reason)
- Late November Physical study permit shows up in mail
- December Obtain SIN number
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