Study Permit Bridge Extension

[humdrumdum]

Hi everyone!

I'm currently trying to transition from being a student to a contributing member of Canadian society as a worker ;D However, I'm in a delicate situation because I will finish by program in early June this year (I'll get my final grades for Winter 2015 on May 30th) AND my study permit will expire on June 30th as well, so my time to apply for a Post-Graduate Work Pemit (PGWP) is a bit cramped. I have tried to exhaust all the resources my school has to offer: an immigration consultant and the international student center.

The immigration consultant (who is an immigration lawyer too!) suggested 2 options:

• Talk to my school about the timely release of my documents so I met the June 30 deadline to lodge my application
• Look for part-time courses in the summer so that I can extend my status as a student to allow for my PGWP application

The international student center, on the other hand, says that I'll be able to make it BY A HAIR (the midnight of June 30) as long as my Student Records changes my status to "graduated" before I convocate, so that they can issue a formal letter stating that I have completed my program. BUT from the sound of it, they can't guarantee it and they don't accept rush requests due to the volume of requests at that time, and it feels like too big of risk for me to rely on my school if my eligibility has such an early expiry date.

So, thanks to a guide written by UBC's International House, I stumbled upon a third option: applying for a bridge extension. I already have a myCIC account since I applied for a Co-op Work Permit earlier this year, but it seems the question for "Do you need a Bridge Extension?" in the online questionnaire is gone.

TL;DR
Has anyone recently tried applying for a study permit bridge extension?
Did you do it online or through a paper application via the Case Processing Center in Vegreville?

I have read the post about this in a 2014 thread, but I feel that might be outdated now...

 

[mead]

bridge work permit applies for people who are transitioning from worker to PR not study permit unless the rules have changed. so that option was never open for u now that being said talk to ur college/university they should give u a letter with which u can apply for study permit extension. My university gives special 3 month letter with which we could extend study permit. Dont trust ur consultant it is very risky to wish everything would be done in one month.

 

[humdrumdum]

Hi Mead, thanks for that fast reply!

I believe bridge extensions do apply to study permits but it is no longer on CIC's website for some reason. Even UBC calls it by the same name, although it is technically a study permit extension. (Said guide to be found here, updated December 2014: http://students.ubc.ca/sites/students.ubc.ca/files/Post-Graduation%20Work%20Permit%20Tutorial%20Dec%2016.pdf) I don't study in UBC though haha

From what I have read, applying for a study permit bridge extension doesn't require a letter from the school, but a letter from the applicant stating that the school has not yet been able to issue a formal notice of completion, therefore the need for a bridge extension to allow for the PGWP application.

My school is the one saying it can be done in one month, but I don't trust them hahaha Also, they cannot issue a letter for study permit extension unless I am registered for a course I have yet to finish. Given that my program is technically completed by June, they can't write that letter unless I am still enroled for something. So my consultant is being more realistic by suggesting that I just find a part-time course to enrol in.

 

[J5M]

Hi,

Hi Mead, thanks for that fast reply!

I believe bridge extensions do apply to study permits but it is no longer on CIC's website for some reason. Even UBC calls it by the same name, although it is technically a study permit extension. (Said guide to be found here, updated December 2014: http://students.ubc.ca/sites/students.ubc.ca/files/Post-Graduation%20Work%20Permit%20Tutorial%20Dec%2016.pdf) I don't study in UBC though haha

From what I have read, applying for a study permit bridge extension doesn't require a letter from the school, but a letter from the applicant stating that the school has not yet been able to issue a formal notice of completion, therefore the need for a bridge extension to allow for the PGWP application.

My school is the one saying it can be done in one month, but I don't trust them hahaha Also, they cannot issue a letter for study permit extension unless I am registered for a course I have yet to finish. Given that my program is technically completed by June, they can't write that letter unless I am still enroled for something. So my consultant is being more realistic by suggesting that I just find a part-time course to enrol in.

1. Bridge extension is same as SP extension. Attach a new LOA, and you will get extra 90 days.
2. Wrong advise by your consultant. You must remain enrolled as a FT student. You can be PT only if few courses left in the last term. You can't add a new PT course.

 

[humdrumdum]

Hi J5M!

Re: Brige Extension
By LOA, you mean Letter of Acceptance right? So that means I have to be enrolled in a new program? Technically, I am going to be done with my current program in June, that's why my school won't issue me that letter for an SP Extension since I would have reached my "Date of Completion" by then. (Simply put, I have nothing else to study haha)

Would it suffice to write to CIC that I need a few weeks extension to allow for the PGWP application, without a LOA from my school?


Re: Part-time studies
From what I understand, courses that don't last 6 months or more don't require a study permit. But because I will lose my status as a student and by definition, can no longer engage in studies, I would need to extend it in order to be allowed to study again. When I send in my application for a SP Extension, I would receive implied status until a decision has been reached, am I wrong?

So as long as I have an implied status as a student, I am still technically eligible for a PGWP application???

 

[J5M]

Hi,

Hi J5M!

Re: Brige Extension
By LOA, you mean Letter of Acceptance right? So that means I have to be enrolled in a new program? Technically, I am going to be done with my current program in June, that's why my school won't issue me that letter for an SP Extension since I would have reached my "Date of Completion" by then. (Simply put, I have nothing else to study haha)

Would it suffice to write to CIC that I need a few weeks extension to allow for the PGWP application, without a LOA from my school?


Re: Part-time studies
From what I understand, courses that don't last 6 months or more don't require a study permit. But because I will lose my status as a student and by definition, can no longer engage in studies, I would need to extend it in order to be allowed to study again. When I send in my application for a SP Extension, I would receive implied status until a decision has been reached, am I wrong?

So as long as I have an implied status as a student, I am still technically eligible for a PGWP application???

1. You are considered as enrolled as long as you don't receive a final transcript/passing letter. You can apply for extension based on your enrollment with a new/updated LOA. You will get 90 days if you are not required to register for any courses.
2. If your TRV is valid, you can take courses that last 6 months or less. But that doesn't mean part time courses.

 

[humdrumdum]

Hi J5M!

I see, the thing is, my is school is insisting that I'll get a formal notification before I convocate on June 19th so they are adamant about not yet issuing me a LOA for a SP Extension at this point. However, that means I basically have a matter of days to apply for the PGWP.

The requirements to prove the completion of my program is a final transcript OR a formal notification OR a letter from the school verifying I have completed my studies? or is it all three?

Re: PTS
oh, so from what I understand, you're talking about fulltime courses that last 6 months or less? My TRV will expire on June 30th as well. PGWP aside, if in any case i still want to take part-time courses (I'm considering French), does that mean I have to get a new TRV first?

Hi,

1. You are considered as enrolled as long as you don't receive a final transcript/passing letter. You can apply for extension based on your enrollment with a new/updated LOA. You will get 90 days if you are not required to register for any courses.
2. If your TRV is valid, you can take courses that last 6 months or less. But that doesn't mean part time courses.

 

[senk]

hello everyone,

I would appreciate your suggestions and help regarding my situation.

MBA program end date : 28th may 2015
visa end date: 28th may 2015

I have to apply for bridge extension. But my concern is whether there is separate process of applying to bridge application or its same as study permit extension? I got LOA(letter of acceptance) from university which only states my program end date is 28th may2015.

Can someone please suggest how to apply so that i can get 90 days of bridge extension in order to apply my PGWP later

Thanks

 

[J5M]

Hi,

hello everyone,

I would appreciate your suggestions and help regarding my situation.

MBA program end date : 28th may 2015
visa end date: 28th may 2015

I have to apply for bridge extension. But my concern is whether there is separate process of applying to bridge application or its same as study permit extension? I got LOA(letter of acceptance) from university which only states my program end date is 28th may2015.

Can someone please suggest how to apply so that i can get 90 days of bridge extension in order to apply my PGWP later

Thanks

Process is same as study permit extension. Application IMM 5709.

 

[ayeshaw]

heyy im in the same boat - my study permit expires on the 9th of june - i write my final course exam on the 3rd of june - and the results and offical letter by the uni is usually issued 2-3 weeks after you write your last course - however, the study permit is supposed to be issued to you until three months after your graduation - i.e i applied for an extension of the study permit now - and once that arrives, i will apply for the post grad work permit