Applying for Canadian Study Permit in the US while holding a US visitor visa

Recently, there have been debates in this forum as to whether the above is possible. The answer is YES. There are two ways to do this:

First, you can go to Visa Application Center (VAC) in Los Angeles and file an application in person (including biometrics). VAC is the US equivalent of VFS in Nigeria. VAC has two offices: New York (processes visiting visas) and Los Angeles (processes study permits). The application process is pretty straightforward and you can find details about VAC processing of study permits here: https://www.csc-cvac.com/en-us/selfservice/cvac_docs_forms_checklists

Secondly, you can file an online study permit using your US address. When CIC sends you a request for biometrics, you can visit any Application Support Center (ASC) operated by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) close to where you live and give your biometrics. They will forward your biometrics information to CIC. https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.type&OfficeLocator.office_type=ASC

If you receive a request to submit your passport to the Visa Office, you can also use the services of VAC. You can send the passport to VAC by courier for onward transmission to the Visa Office: https://www.csc-cvac.com/en-us/selfservice/cvac_application_processing

As a matter of personal opinion, you stand better chances of securing a study permit from US than from Accra. For many reasons - first, visa officers in third world countries have a very negative bias against visa applicant, and the high level of desperation among the applicants tend to feed this negative bias.

Secondly, (and this is strictly personal opinion), visa offices seem to have certain quota of study permit they can issue, with the great number of applications from Nigeria, I bet you great number of applications tend to get refused for some awful reasons (even when these applications appear solid). On the other, Americans are not really that interested in studying in Canada so if there is any quota for visa offices in the US (which ideally should be higher than the quota allocated to Nigeria), they don’t get to fill them that easily.

So if you have a US visa, consider applying when in US and reduce the pressure in Accra. More so, if the “hunters” in Accra visa office has learnt to shoot without missing, the “birds” in Nigeria should also learn to fly without perching. Best of luck in your next application.

JUBILEE2000:
Hello gurus in the house, thanks for your sacrifice and priceless contributions on this forum.
Please my wife will be traveling with our 3 children for a 2 year diploma program. The oldest of my children is 6 but the challenge here is that the school fees for early and primary years is as high as the diploma program in Ontario. I just googled it and it's as high as CAD14,000. Please can smbdy help me with any info on affordable schools for international children. Thanks a lot

You seems to be getting something wrong here. The school should be free for your children as your wife will be in Canada as a student. If your wife is in Canada with as a visitor, that's when international tuition will apply to your children.

Becks93:
Hello house, Please I need your advice . My sister applied for student visa to canada on the 3rd of March 2016 after getting an admissiom from university of winnipeg and till now we haven't heard anything from them after her biometrics. Her status on the tracking site is still saying "being processed". She is devastated and I can't watch her go through that after leaving her school in Ghanafor something better (canada) and this is happening. The agent that help us isn't calling us back or picking our calls.
Do you know what the problem might be? Or what do you advice we do?

I beg you in the name of God,I don't want to lose my sister to depression. And I don't want her to regret leaving Ghana for any reason.
@justwise @mikymiko @thesoj etc

Waiting for your response. Thank you so much

She should send an email to Accra visa office requesting for an update on her file.

idogbo:
please I need a suggestion on this issue am currently facing, I applied for university of waterloo for Meng in Electrical and computer engineering for spring of 2017, although no admission decision has been made pertaining my application and also I applied for Seneca college for PGC for Jan 9th as a start date and i received my admission letter yesterday, don't know if I should begin my student permit application for PGC or take a chill pill for Waterloo...thanks in advance for your anticipated response

First, it's already late to apply for trv for a January program. Second, you have better chances for a successful trv application with a masters program than a PGC

teleayomi:
Hello Everyone,

I am trying to get my GCMS Note after my application was denied last week, The form has been filled by my cousin in Canada but payment was not accepted. The message he got was Payment has already been made for this GCMS form. Has anybody experienced this before. If yes please what's the way out moreover am not aware of any other person assisting with the process.

Start the application all over again.

opia12345:
please , house, how many weeks does it take for one to appeal for refusal ?

There's nothing like that bro. You may apply for judicial review of the decision of the visa officer before the Federal Court in Canada.

toluine56:

Lawmerchant I don't think you're right on this one. I know for a fact that CIC asks that you apply from your home country for a study visa.
boss thesoj, michv and other gurus can you please clarify this issue before people get misinformed.
Thanks.

Ok. While you wait for the issue to be "clarified". I can tell you I am 101% sure - based on fact and experience. That all I can say.

faskare:

Thanks jj17cv,you gave the best explanation. Having a B1/B2 visa you are allowed into the U.S. for a maximum period of 6months this does not mean you can apply for visa to another country. This is because as a visitor, you can't work which might affect the person's assessment but as a student, you can apply to any country and your chances are higher. To confirm you can send a mail on general enquiries to la-info@csc-cvac.com. Many thanks

You forgot to state that this is your opinion and not a fact. First the opinion is wrong. Second, a visitor in US can apply for Canadian study permit from the US. (This is a fact). Most importantly, your chances of getting a Canadian study permit from the US as a visitor is far better than your chances of getting same from Accra (this is our opinion).

jj17cv:
@teleayomi
You can only apply in usa if you got a student visa Not visiting visa

Wrong you can apply from the US even as a visitor.

faskare:
[quote author=Ajayi4

Do not be discouraged. But from my own opinion, I don't think you can apply from U.S. as only LA office attend to student applications with legal stay in the U.S.. As a visitor, you will need to have your biometrics done. For example, I have a valid U.S. and Canada visas but in order to change my status from visitor to student, I was urged to come to Nigeria for my application. I am presently in Nigeria as I applied last month for a status change. Thus, applying from the U.S. might be difficult.

Hmmm who gave you this kind of advice bro? - to travel from US to Nigeria to apply to change your Canadian status? So you left the US where you have better chances of getting Canadian study permit in 4wks to come to Nigeria with xtraodinary refusal rate and 16wks processing time to apply for study permit?

@teleayomi
Well the fact is that you can apply for Canadian study permit from the US if you're legally admitted to the US. All you need do is go in person to VIsa Application Center (VAC) in Los Angeles, or you apply online and use the services of Application Support Center (ASC) operated by the US Citizenship & Immigration Services close to where you live (in the US) to provide your biometrics to CIC.

Aaqibpk:
Hello everyone I need help
I'm currently studying in USA but I'm from Pakistan. I want to apply visit visa for Canada. I checked their website that I need biometric after the submition of application and I need to visit VAC at newyork but right now I'm in Michigan. Is there is any way I can do my biometric from my state or I need to go to Visa application centre in New York for biometric ?
Please reply me, I'm very confuse
Thanks

[/b]If you apply from within the United States[b]

You can apply online or to the VAC in New York or California. Do not send mail to a Canadian visa office in the US.

CIC will send you a biometric instruction letter by mail or by email through your MyCIC account when we receive your application. Follow the instructions in the letter. Print a copy and bring it along with your passport or travel document when you go to the biometric collection centre.

Go to a VAC in New York or California, [/b]or go to an Application Support Center (ASC) between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to give your biometrics. You do not need to make an appointment.

Go to the ASC closest to the zip code you gave on your application.[b]

Your $85 CAD biometric fee covers the cost of having your biometrics taken at the ASC.

Aaqibpk:
Hello everyone I need help
I'm currently studying in USA but I'm from Pakistan. I want to apply visit visa for Canada. I checked their website that I need biometric after the submition of application and I need to visit VAC at newyork but right now I'm in Michigan. Is there is any way I can do my biometric from my state or I need to go to Visa application centre in New York for biometric ?
Please reply me, I'm very confuse
Thanks

You may be able to provide your biometrics using the services of Application Support Center (ASC) operated by the US Citizenship & Immigration Services close to you. Go to the link below, enter your country and age and CAREFULLY read the information provided with regards to providing biometrics through ASC
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/biometrics.asp

iyobs7:


Bro please I sent you an email. I am the guy seeking admission and you sent me a link to some courses remember?

Resend to lawmerchant3@gmail.com

Avalon316:


I asked Fanshawe college to send the Money to my own very domiciliary account,they refused. See attached emails. My problem is...do they have the right to say where the refund goes to?

Well, you can authorize a 3rd party in Canada to receive the fund on your behalf. All you need is to write a letter of authorization, inform the school about it and hear what excuse (if any) they will give.

Avalon316:


Canadian schools won't pay the refund into any domiciliary account if it didn't come originally from the domiciliary account.

If you got your money via CBN form A directly then they would refund the money to your bank . Your bank will refund exactly the amount you paid in Naira. #sadnews.

How did I get to know? I'm in the middle of it. I asked my school to pay into my domiciliary account but they said they will refund the dollars to my bank then my bank will refund exactly the amount I paid in Naira.

You can request the school refund to your authorized agent (3rd party). If you have a trusted relative in Canada, you can authorize the relative to collect the fund on your behalf and then remit it to you.

iyobs7:
I WANT TO PLEAD WITH THOSE THAT HAVE APPLIED ALREADY TO COLLEGES FOR PGC PROGRAMS, WHICH IS THE QUICKEST OR FASTEST COLLEGE IN TERMS OF ADMISSION ISSUANCE? MY SPONSOR WILL BE IN NIGERIA IN A WEEK AND HE EXPECTS TO SEE THE ADMISSION LETTER AS SOON AS HE ARRIVES. PLEASE HELP ME.

What program are you going for?

iamosamede55:

What about a scenario where someone is genuinely visiting a country like US for like 6wks on a B1/B2 visa, can one apply for TRV from dere

Yes you can but you'll have to go to Canada Visa Application Center (VAC) in Los Angeles. See the link below for details.
https://www.csc-cvac.com/en-us/selfservice/cvac_welcome

Jimmyjob:
Hello, Pls I am coming to Canada next year for school(Ottawa). Is there anything I should know before traveling and after I arrive?

Yes. Before traveling you need to know that the weather it Ottawa could go as low as -40ºC in winter

afredytee:


Thank you so much for your time. but may I ask why I can't travel now? considering accommodation won't be an issue, So also the new offer of admission won't be ready soon, needless to mention I already made travel arrangement for next week.

@afredytee dear, you cannot travel to Canada in September 2016 when your program begins in September 2017. It does not make any difference that you already have accommodation. You will be sent back at the port of entry. If you want to risk it, it's up to you but the risk doesn't worth it.

UNIXLover:
Hello Guys,
Please advice me on this. I got my Canada visa and supposed to resume in January, I wont be able to resume till May.
Do I need to communicate with CIC about deferring my admission after obtaining the visa?
If i go to Canada in December and resume in school to deffer my admission and return to my current resident, does that have any negative implication when i intend to return in May ?

You cannot go to Canada, resume and then differ your admission and return to your country of residence. Once your study permit is issued at the point of entry you "must enrol in and continue to pursue studies in Canada. Failure to do so could lead to removal from Canada" and if you're outside Canada you may be refused entry on your return and your study permit revoked.
Hence, don't go to Canada unless you're ready to really commence and continue your study.
You can contact the school to defer your admission till May and then travel to Canada to resume for the May Semester. You don't need to notify CIC, but you'll need the deferral or May admission letter. - LM

thesoj:
Bro/sis, I'm afraid your advice is incorrect. You have been corrected several times but you still repeat the same incorrect advice. Smh.
@aubreyr, read back a couple of pages there was a conversation about your question a few days ago.

No apologies sir. What we have stated is fact based on information obtained from CIC contact center in Canada. You and other monickers can go ahead and continue to express your opinion based on your idea as to how you think things work. May be the agent at CIC contact center is wrong while you and the other monickers in NL are right.