Student Visa as alternative to spousal sponsorship

[bluesosa]

Hi everyone,

By the way, I posted a similar topic under the family sponsorship section.

My fiancee lives in Beirut right now, while I'm a Canadian citizen and resident of Quebec.

We were planning on getting married this year and applying for a sponsorship. However, given how long it would take for us to be together, I am looking at alternatives.

My fiancee is currently finishing her university studies in Beirut.

Few questions:

1) If she applies to a Canadian university and comes there to study, is it easy to get a student permit as an international student?
2) Will it then be easy for us to apply from within Canada while we are waiting?
3) How long will she able able to stay in Canada?
4) Will she have to take a lot of course, or can she take a more 'relaxed program?
5) What are the disadvantages to this approach? The financial aspect (tuition fees, etc) is not really an issue for us. I would even be willing to look at some of the more expensive options (like Herzing College).

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[tiger007]

Hi everyone,

By the way, I posted a similar topic under the family sponsorship section.

My fiancee lives in Beirut right now, while I'm a Canadian citizen and resident of Quebec.

We were planning on getting married this year and applying for a sponsorship. However, given how long it would take for us to be together, I am looking at alternatives.

My fiancee is currently finishing her university studies in Beirut.

Few questions:

1) If she applies to a Canadian university and comes there to study, is it easy to get a student permit as an international student?
2) Will it then be easy for us to apply from within Canada while we are waiting?
3) How long will she able able to stay in Canada?
4) Will she have to take a lot of course, or can she take a more 'relaxed program?
5) What are the disadvantages to this approach? The financial aspect (tuition fees, etc) is not really an issue for us. I would even be willing to look at some of the more expensive options (like Herzing College).

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Hi,

I cannot comment regarding the issue of family sponsorship due to my extremely limited knowledge on this topic. What I can tell you a bit..is about Canadian study permit.
I've heard that via family sponsorship route ..it may take some time.. some times.. much longer...to bring your loved ones....

Yes, the alternative and MAY be faster method to bring your fiancee is via student's route.

But, getting a Canadian study permit is not as easy as say Australia/NZ/UK etc. where you throw money and you study any course (provided your get admission and your documents are genuine)..any level..anything you can study! NO! Getting Canadian study permit is perhaps one of the toughest to get in the world and even if you 've million dollars...won't guarantee you a study permit. As far as applicants from Indian subcontinent are concerned... (and I'm sure it applies to applicants from other parts of the world too.. like Lebanon)The CHC has several rules such as the course applied should be higher or atleast similar level of your present credential (i.e if you are a Bachelor's level degree holder, applying for lower level certificate/diploma programmes 'll surely result in visa rejection) and the course applied to should be in the direct area of your previous study/background or atleast in a related field. For example if you are BBA degree holder, have 2 years work ex in sales field and you opt for a PG in Hotel management ..then your visa 'll be most probably rejected. Now you get the point right... One of the most probable reason for such stringent rules is to limit the number of students entering Canada and only accept genuine students.. because there's no denial..that Canada is perhaps the last place left in world where average students after completion of studies 've a good chance of getting PR.. as compared to UK,USA,Australia, NZ..where it either impossible to very very tough to get a PR !

How long she can stay, depends on the type of course she chooses. If she chooses a 2 years course.. then one can get a 3 years PGWP (that's total 2+3=5years), and usually if she chooses a course less than 2 years, in that case... one will get a PGWP equal to the length of study period. How getting and entering Canada via study permit.. may or may not influence the family sponsorship file..it's difficult to say..It's really up to you guys to select the route... discuss.. make a plan.. and so to be on safer side.. you better consult an immigration lawyer. The course she chooses..has to be in relation to her previous studies, work experience/profile. Then, among the courses matching her profile..she may choose to go for a relaxed course in any of the colleges or pursue tougher higher studies in universities.

Go for a college, which is recognized for PGWP (post grad Work permit) by CIC. Here's the list of all recognized Colleges/Universities approved for PGWP (listed province wise).... http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/institutions/participants.asp
You guys need to do a detailed research, visit college/University websites... choose an appropriate course matching your fiancee's previous qualification/work ex..overall profile. Also, she needs to appear for IELTS..which is absolutely necessary for admission to any colleges and score min overall 6.5(with no bands less than 6.0). Alternatively, since you are in Quebec..and if your fiancee is proficient in French...she can look forward to study in any college/ university of Quebec...and after passing out form any course of min. 1 year duration from a recognized educational institution in Quebec, she can apply for PR..without a job offer! So, if she knows French..then applying for PR under Quebec provincial nomination programme will be much easier.

Hope it helps.

Best of Luck!

 

[bluesosa]

Hi,

I cannot comment regarding the issue of family sponsorship due to my extremely limited knowledge on this topic. What I can tell you a bit..is about Canadian study permit.
I've heard that via family sponsorship route ..it may take some time.. some times.. much longer...to bring your loved ones....

Yes, the alternative and MAY be faster method to bring your fiancee is via student's route.

But, getting a Canadian study permit is not as easy as say Australia/NZ/UK etc. where you throw money and you study any course (provided your get admission and your documents are genuine)..any level..anything you can study! NO! Getting Canadian study permit is perhaps one of the toughest to get in the world and even if you 've million dollars...won't guarantee you a study permit. As far as applicants from Indian subcontinent are concerned... (and I'm sure it applies to applicants from other parts of the world too.. like Lebanon)The CHC has several rules such as the course applied should be higher or atleast similar level of your present credential (i.e if you are a Bachelor's level degree holder, applying for lower level certificate/diploma programmes 'll surely result in visa rejection) and the course applied to should be in the direct area of your previous study/background or atleast in a related field. For example if you are BBA degree holder, have 2 years work ex in sales field and you opt for a PG in Hotel management ..then your visa 'll be most probably rejected. Now you get the point right... One of the most probable reason for such stringent rules is to limit the number of students entering Canada and only accept genuine students.. because there's no denial..that Canada is perhaps the last place left in world where average students after completion of studies 've a good chance of getting PR.. as compared to UK,USA,Australia, NZ..where it either impossible to very very tough to get a PR !

How long she can stay, depends on the type of course she chooses. If she chooses a 2 years course.. then one can get a 3 years PGWP (that's total 2+3=5years), and usually if she chooses a course less than 2 years, in that case... one will get a PGWP equal to the length of study period. How getting and entering Canada via study permit.. may or may not influence the family sponsorship file..it's difficult to say..It's really up to you guys to select the route... discuss.. make a plan.. and so to be on safer side.. you better consult an immigration lawyer. The course she chooses..has to be in relation to her previous studies, work experience/profile. Then, among the courses matching her profile..she may choose to go for a relaxed course in any of the colleges or pursue tougher higher studies in universities.

Go for a college, which is recognized for PGWP (post grad Work permit) by CIC. Here's the list of all recognized Colleges/Universities approved for PGWP (listed province wise)....
You guys need to do a detailed research, visit college/University websites... choose an appropriate course matching your fiancee's previous qualification/work ex..overall profile. Also, she needs to appear for IELTS..which is absolutely necessary for admission to any colleges and score min overall 6.5(with no bands less than 6.0). Alternatively, since you are in Quebec..and if your fiancee is proficient in French...she can look forward to study in any college/ university of Quebec...and after passing out form any course of min. 1 year duration from a recognized educational institution in Quebec, she can apply for PR..without a job offer! So, if she knows French..then applying for PR under Quebec provincial nomination programme will be much easier.

Hope it helps.

Best of Luck!

Thanks for your response. She's currently working on a Bachelors in Computer Science, but hasn't completed. Do you think she would get accepted for a Visa if I enrol her in a technical/professional college for a 2-year Computer Science program? For example, Attestation d'Études Collégiales (A.E.C.) in Computer Programming at Herzing college??

I guess officially, her highest level of education is high school since she hasn't completely university... but would that fly in your opinion?

Thanks again!

 

[bluesosa]

Another question: if we apply for spousal sponsorship, is she almost sure to get declined if she later applies for a student visa (for a legitimate program, with sufficient funds, etc)? What are her chances?

Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks again.

 

[scylla]

Thanks for your response. She's currently working on a Bachelors in Computer Science, but hasn't completed. Do you think she would get accepted for a Visa if I enrol her in a technical/professional college for a 2-year Computer Science program? For example, Attestation d'Études Collégiales (A.E.C.) in Computer Programming at Herzing college??

I guess officially, her highest level of education is high school since she hasn't completely university... but would that fly in your opinion?

Thanks again!

I don't think what you are proposing will make sense to a visa officer. Right now she is part way through her BA. To then switch to a college program (and a college with a poor reputation to boot) won't make sense. That's a huge step backwards. It would make far more sense for her to apply to a university with the aim of continuing and finishing her BA here.

 

[bluesosa]

I don't think what you are proposing will make sense to a visa officer. Right now she is part way through her BA. To then switch to a college program (and a college with a poor reputation to boot) won't make sense. That's a huge step backwards. It would make far more sense for her to apply to a university with the aim of continuing and finishing her BA here.

Thanks.

Let's say she gets accepted to continue her BA/BS in a reputable university. Would the fact that her husband is a Canadian citizen disqualify her from getting a student visa? Or make it somewhat unlikely for her to get it?

 

[scylla]

Thanks.

Let's say she gets accepted to continue her BA/BS in a reputable university. Would the fact that her husband is a Canadian citizen disqualify her from getting a student visa? Or make it somewhat unlikely for her to get it?

It won't disqualify her. However it will make approval unlikely since she will have a great deal of difficulty proving strong ties to her home country and demonstrating she has no plans to stay in Canada long term.