Study Permit & Temporary Resident Visa Extension

Extending your Study Permit

You should begin the process to extend your study permit about three months before its expiry. 

For a complete application kit & detailed instructions, refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.  Your application can be submitted by mail or online.  Make sure to check the processing times for each option before submitting your application.

The following instructions are also available in hardcopy form from the IE office.  Please note that this is not a legal document and all information is subject to change.  For the most up to date information, refer to the CIC website.  

If you have any questions about the process to extend your study permit, please speak with an International Student Coordinator in the IE office (A107), or contact the CIC call centre at 1-888-242-2100.

To renew your Study Permit VIA MAIL:  

1. Fill out an application form [IMM 1249] to change conditions or to extend your stay in Canada using a black pen and BLOCK LETTERS. You can download from www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM1249E.PDF.
2. Provide photocopies your passport pages showing the passport number, date of issue and expiry, name and date of birth, the stamp from your most recent entry into Canada and any other marked pages (even if stamps are not from canada).
3. Provide a photocopy your current Study Permit.
4. Provide a photocopy of your Letter of Acceptance if it was issued within the last 3 months.                                                                                                                         

              OR

Provide an original Letter for Extension of Study Permit if your letter of acceptance is more than 3 months old.

• STEP/LEAP students will need to pay tuition for future sessions (non-refundable).  Fill out the letter request form available from the Continuing Studies front desk. Allow 1 week for this letter.
• Arts & Science/Career students will need to pay the Commitment Fee for their next semester’s study, fill out a ‘Request for Letter for Extension of Study Permit’ form and hand it in to Registrar and Enrolment Services.  Allow two weeks to process this letter.

     5.  Provide proof of funds available.  This can be a letter or statement from your bank. 

     6.  Provide copies of your last two semesters’ transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable).  You can download and print unofficial Langara transcripts from your myLangara account. 

     7.  Pay $125 processing fee either online (www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/index.asp) or at any bank using the payment receipt form (IMM 5401).  The payment receipt form is available at the IE office (Room A107). Make sure you get your receipt stamped by the bank.

     8.  Provide completed document checklist (IMM5555).  You can download this from www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5555E.PDF.

     9.  Make a copy of your complete application package for your records.

     10. Mail your complete application package (including the bank receipt)  to:

          *A safe and quick way to send your application is by Xpresspost, available at any Canada Post Office.

        **Be sure to keep your Xpresspost receipt AND your $125 processing fee receipt as proof of your application being sent**

To renew your Study Permit ONLINE:

1.  Visit the CIC website (see above) to register for a Government of Canada MyCIC account.

2.  Complete an online “In-Canada Temporary Resident Application” at www.cic.gc.ca/english/e-services/study.asp. 

3.  Scan in and attach the following documents to your application.  Each document should be a separate file and each file should be 2MB or less.  Acceptable file formats are: .PDF, .TIFF, .JPG, and .DOC.

1. Your passport pages showing the passport number, date of issue and expiry, name and date of birth, the stamp from your most recent entry into Canada and any other marked pages, including your current study permit.
2. Your Letter of Acceptance (if it was issued within the last 3 months) OR a Letter for Extension of Study Permit AND your unofficial transcripts.

       To obtain a Letter for Extension of Study Permit: 

• STEP/LEAP students will need to pay tuition for future sessions (non-refundable).  Fill out the letter request form available from the Continuing Studies front desk. Allow one week for this letter.
• Arts & Science/Career students will need to pay the Commitment Fee for their next semester’s study, fill out a ‘Request for Letter for Extension of Study Permit’ form and hand it in to Registrar and Enrolment Services.
• Allow two weeks to process this letter.
• To obtain your unofficial transcripts, download and print them from your myLangara account.

      3.  Proof of available funds.  This can be a letter or statement from your bank.

      4.  Your $125 processing fee receipt. You can pay online (www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/index.asp) or at any bank.  If you wish to pay at the bank, come to the IE Office (Room A107) to pick up a payment receipt form.  Make sure you get your receipt stamped by the bank.

4.  Print a copy of your completed application for your records.

    **Be sure to keep your $125 processing fee receipt AND print the “Welcome to MyCIC” page which includes your name and a message which says “Confirmation of Online Application Transmission” as proof of your study permit being sent**   

Renewing your Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)

If you are from a country whose residents require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), your TRV will expire at the same time as your study permit.  If you plan to travel outside of Canada (except to the United States), you will need a TRV to re-enter Canada; therefore, you should renew your TRV after receiving your new study permit.

Please note that you should apply for a new TRV at least one month before you plan to travel outside Canada, as your application will take about 4 weeks to process.

To apply for a new Temporary Resident Visa (TRV):

1.      Visit the CIC website for application forms and an instruction guide.  Read through ALL of the information carefully and complete the following forms:

• Application for a Temporary Resident Visa Outside Canada (IMM 5257) – Complete and validated this form online before printing.  Forms completed by hand will not be accepted.
• Family Information (IMM 5645) – Complete this form online before printing it.  Please note that you must include information about all family members (your parents, brothers, sisters and children) even if they are not in Canada.
• Document Checklist (IMM 5484)

2.      Decide which Canadian Consulate you will send your application to.  All applications must be sent to a Canadian Consulate OUTSIDE of Canada:

         in Seattle (recommended) - www.canadainternational.gc.ca/seattle/imm/visa_temp
         OR

         in Buffalo - www.canadainternational.gc.ca/buffalo/imm/visa_temp
         OR

         in Los Angeles - www.canadainternational.gc.ca/los_angeles/imm/visa_temp

Originals of your most recent official transcript.
Refer to the corresponding website as listed above for a list of required documents (in addition to those indicated on the Document Checklist) and payment/mailing instructions.
NOTE: It is advisable to choose the office nearest to your current place of residence (Seattle is strongly recommended).  You may be required to attend an interview at the visa office where you submit your application.

3.   Gather up all of the necessary documents, including, but not limited to:

• A photocopy of your current study permit.
• Proof of current enrolment.
• Original passport.
• Proof of financial support.

4.   Pay the appropriate fee depending on the type of TRV you want (single or multiple entry). Visit the website of the office where you will be submitting your application for their specific instructions regarding fee payments.  An acceptable method of payment is by money order or bank draft.  This can be purchased from your local bank or a post office, and must be payable to Receiver General for Canada.  NOTE: The pink processing fee receipt normally used for extension of study permits is NOT acceptable. 

5.   Get your photos taken.  Your photos MUST comply with CIC specifications.  Refer to the CIC website for more information: www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/photospecs-e.pdf. Take the photographer’s instructions with you when you get your photos taken.  The Consulate may not process your application if your photos do not meet the specifications.

6.   Review and follow the Mailing Instructions very carefully.  The instructions are different depending on the consulate you send your application to.

• When you visit any of the Canadian Consulate websites listed on this site, click “Where to Apply” and select the city you would like to mail your application to for detailed instructions and mailing addresses.
• IMPORTANT NOTE:  For all Consulates, you must include a pre-paid return envelope and waybill (if needed) so that your passport can be sent back to you by a secure delivery method.  If you do not include a pre-paid envelope and waybill, the Embassy will send your passport back to you by regular mail, which takes longer and has no tracking number.  The Embassies are not liable for lost or stolen passports.
• Application processing times vary, but you should allow a minimum of 4 weeks for processing.  This means that you should NOT make plans to leave Canada in the 4 weeks after your application arrives at the Consulate.
• Please visit http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/seattle/offices-bureaux/hours-heures.aspx for more information about mailing your application to the Consulate in Seattle.

7.   If you have limited time and are legally able to enter the United States (e.g. if you have a US visa or do not require one to enter the US), you may wish to submit your application in person to the consulate in Seattle.  The same documents will be required, but processing is usually done more quickly.

The Canadian Consulate in Seattle receives TRV applications from 8:00-10:00am, Monday-Friday.  Make sure to arrive early!  The Immigration Section of the Consulate General of Canada is located at 1501 4^th Avenue, Suite 600. This is on the 6th floor of the Century Square Building at the corner of 4th Avenue and Pike Street in downtown Seattle.

You will need to arrange accommodation in Seattle as your request will take at least 24 hours to process after it has been submitted.  The consular staff will advise you of when you can return to pick up your passport and your visa if it is approved.

Please visit http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/seattle/offices-bureaux/hours-heures.aspx for more instructions on submitting your application in person at the Consulate in Seattle.

Travelling to the United States without a valid TRV.

Due to an agreement between Canada and the United States, your valid passport and valid Study Permit allow you to legally re-enter Canada after travelling to the US (except Alaska and Hawaii), even if your TRV has expired.  However, if you travel to any other countries (even if you do so by way of the US), you can only re-enter Canada if you have a valid TRV.

If you are travelling only to the United States and do not have a valid TRV, we recommend that you carry with you a current confirmation of enrollment letter from Langara College as proof that you will be registered here upon your return, AND a printed copy of the section of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that confirms your exemption from the TRV requirement for travelling to the US.  Visit http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/page-95.html#h-89 and scroll down to Division 5-190(3)(f) to see the regulation.