I had a past overstay which includes the time in covid where I couldn’t travel. I left voluntarily and it’s been an year since I came back to my country. When I consulted with a lawyer he said I can apply for a student visa and come back. Or should I apply for an ARC. I wasn’t deported
Student visa
- Thread starter Koyal
- Start date
You can certainly apply for a new student visa. It will be up to IRCC if that student visa is approved or not. You'll need to be honest in your application about your immigration history in Canada, including the length of your overstay. I would recommend you include an LOE to explain the circumstances that led to the long overstay and also to demonstrate why you want to return to Canada now and also your ties to your home country.
As said above, you only need an ARC if a removal order was issued against you.
This is significantly more complicated. You overstayed for years and didn’t return home in 2018 as you were directed to and worked while on a study permit and not studying. Chances of getting a new study permit are likely pretty low.
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/overstay.822945/