Planning your undergraduate or graduate degree in Canada is a huge decision that can change your life forever. However, there’s more to studying in Canada than just being accepted by a university or college in Canada.

To enter and study in Canada, your study permit application needs to be accepted. And this is not as simple and easy as it seems. You need to take all necessary steps, including seeking professional assistance, to ensure you don’t face the problem of a rejected study permit.

Here are some common reasons why your study permit application may be rejected by the Immigration Officer.

Lack of Financial Resources

Canada’s study permit rules require applicants to have enough funds to cover the tuition fees of the first year of study. However, this does not mean the Immigration Officer cannot or will not consider your ability to finance your entire education.

If the Officer feels you cannot pay for your education and your living expenses in Canada, then your study permit application may be rejected.

 Also Read

• • Studying in Canada? Don’t Wait Too Long and Start Immigration Planning Today
  • Ranked after UAE, Canada’s the Real Top Study Destination for Young Indians
  • Foreign Student’s Study-Work-Settle Route in Canada

Insufficient Ties to Home Country  

The study permit is a temporary residence permit, which means the Immigration Officer needs to be satisfied that you intend to return to your home country after completing your studies.

Canada wants international students to work and settle in the country after completing their studies. The doctrine of dual intent allows students to explore post-graduation work or even direct permanent residence options while being a temporary resident of Canada.

But, if none of these options work out, then you must intend to return home after completing your studies. Parents’ jobs or business in the home country or ownership of property and/or other assets often is considered proof of proof of family ties to the home country.

Poor Job Prospects in Home Country

Why invest tens of thousands of dollars on a degree or course when there aren’t good jobs for such qualified persons in your home country? This is the question the Immigration Officer will consider if there are poor job prospects for your course or program in your home country.

Your Statement of Purpose must clearly lay out how this degree or course will help boost career prospects back home. Or else, the Officer will conclude you are unlikely to return home and that the study permit application is just an excuse to enter and settle in Canada.

Inadequate Documentation

Incomplete transcripts, absence of certified translations, absence of required documents, unclear or vague submissions, other issues with the documents attached to your study permit application can lead to rejection.

Hope for the Best but Plan for the Worst—Work with an Immigration Consultant

There’s more to a study permit application than being accepted by a DLI and filling the form. Your application will be scrutinized in detail and even the smallest flaw or slightest doubt can result in a rejection.

The best way to deal with rejection is to simply avoid it. You can request the Immigration Officer to review his/her decision. Or you can appeal in the courts or even to the Immigration Minister. Or you can accept the rejection and reapply and hope for the best.

There’s no doubt that rejection of your study permit application will complicate matters. In the best-case scenario where the review overturns the rejection and your Canadian college cooperates, then you will join late and miss out on a portion of your classes.

Worst-case scenario? The college may withdraw their acceptance and the court decision, even if favorable, will be long after your chance of studying in Canada has passed.

This is why you need to work with an immigration consultant before, and not after, your application has been rejected. An experienced immigration professional will be in a position to quickly identify potential issues in your application and suggest remedies for the same.

If you have an extended family in Canada, then this may be a negative factor for the Immigration Officer. This risk may be mitigated by emphasizing on your future career plans in your home country and focusing on the strong ties that you and your family have with your home country.

The issue of financial insufficiency can be easily remedied by applying through the Student Direct Stream route. Your application will include a CAD $10,000 Guaranteed Investment Certificate that’s kind of an advance deposit of your living expenses with a financial institution in Canada.   

And of course, the professional guidance of an immigration consultant will ensure your study permit application documentation is in perfect order with no scope for any query, request for clarification, or rejection on basis of poor documentation.