Extend Visa In Canada
When the time to return to your home country arrives, you might be facing a problem: You have not yet extended your visa in Canada . Whether it is a tourist visa or a work permit, read this article to know what you can do when your time to extend visa expires and how you can extend it.
In 2016 there were almost 1.3 million temporary foreign workers and international students in Canada. These individuals had a work and study permit to stay in Canada. At any given moment you will find thousands of people trying to extend their visas in Canada by obtaining a work permit or an extension on their studies permit. Every day, many of these individuals are applying for a visa extension in Canada at their local CIC (Citizenship and Immigration) office. This can be an exciting time for individuals but can also be overwhelming, especially if you have never done it before.
Extend Visa In Canada
Super Visas
A super visa is a multiple entry visitor visa specifically for the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It allows holders to stay in Canada for up to two years at a time without needing to renew their status.
- Super Visa vs Visitor Visa
- How to Apply for a Super Visa
- Super Visa for Visa-Exempt Visitors
- Super Visa Extensions
- Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship
The super visa allows eligible parents and grandparents to stay temporarily in Canada. To stay permanently, parents and grandparents must be sponsored for permanent residence by their Canadian child or grandchild.
Super Visa vs Visitor Visa
Super visas are a type of Canadian visitor visa that are only available to parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The biggest difference between a super visa and a visitor visa is the length of time you are allowed to stay in Canada. Normally, a visitor visa can be valid for a stay of up to 6 months. To prolong your stay in Canada you need to apply to extend your visa. With a super visa, you may be able to stay in Canada for up to two years at a time without needing to apply for an extension.
How to Apply for a Super Visa
You can apply for a super visa online, or by submitting a paper-based application. In either case, you must prove that you are the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Your application needs to include a letter of invitation from your child or grandchild that includes plans for your care and information about the number of people living in their household in Canada. You will also be required to demonstrate that you have private health insurance from a Canadian insurance company valid for at least one year. Your child or grandchild will also be required to demonstrate that they have enough funds to support you during your visit by meeting the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) minimum for their family unit size.
Super Visa for Visa-Exempt Visitors
Depending on their country of citizenship, some foreign nationals do not require a visitor visa to visit Canada. These are referred to as visa-exempt visitors. Visa-exempt visitors are only allowed to remain in Canada for a period of up to six months without renewing their status. So, parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are visa-exempt may still want to apply for a super visa. This will allow them to remain in Canada for up to two years at a time, increasing the time they can spend with their loved ones in Canada.
Visa-exempt parents and grandparents who apply for a super visa have to follow the same application procedure detailed above. However, successful applicants will be issued a letter to present to the border services officer when they enter Canada, which authorizes their stay, instead of a visa. Visa-exempt visitors who travel to Canada by air are required to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA), even if they have successfully applied for a super visa.
Super Visa Extensions
Super visas allow holders to remain in Canada for up to two years. If you want to stay in Canada for longer than two years, you must apply to extend your stay. You should submit your extension application no later than 30 days before your current status expires. If your current visa expires while your extension application is still being processed, you may remain in Canada while waiting for a decision to be made. This is called implied status.
Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship
As an alternative to the super visa, which allows holders to stay in Canada temporarily, you may wish to pursue permanent immigration through the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship program.
Apply for a Study Permit Extension from Inside Canada
This information was prepared by the ISSO’s Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) as required by the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. It has general information and answers some common questions. Please note:
- It is not legal advice
- Citizenship, Immigration and Refugees Canada (IRCC) is the source of official information, including all recent updates and application forms.
- Students should visit the ISSO for immigration information and advice based on their personal details.
If your study permit will expire before you finish your program at Carleton, you must apply to IRCC for a new one. This is called applying for an extension of your status as a student. You must be living in Canada to be eligible to extend your status.
It is your responsibility to know the expiry date on your study permit and to apply for an extension before then so you can keep studying.
You can always contact the ISSO if you have questions or would like help with your study permit extension application. Also, look on our Events page for study permit information sessions.
If you need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) as well as a new study permit, you should know that there is a two-step process in Canada:
- Apply for your new study permit
- After you receive your study permit, apply for the TRV
You cannot apply for both at the same time.
When to Apply for an Extension
Check your passport expiry date first! If your passport is about to expire, your first step is to get a new one. Processing times and processes are different for each country.
You must apply for a new study permit before the expiry date of your current permit. It’s a good idea to apply about two months before. You might want to do it even sooner, if IRCC’s current processing times are long, or if you plan to travel and will need a new Temporary Resident Visa to return to Canada.
If you don’t apply before your study permit expires, you must stop studying (and working) immediately. You have two choices:
- Apply for restoration of status within 90 days. This can be a difficult application. Visit the ISSO for advice.
- Leave Canada and apply for a new study permit from your home country.
How to Apply for an Extension
Start by signing in or creating an account.
On your account home page, look for “Apply to Come to Canada” and choose the study permit option. Answer the questions about yourself and why you want to come to Canada. The system uses your answers to create a document list. Most applications include these items:
- IMM 5709 — Application to Change Conditions, Extent My Stay or Remain in Canada as a Student. Download the form from the online system and open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Add your information, validate the form, then upload it to the online application.
- Your passport – Click on the question mark to see which pages to include.
- “Letter of acceptance” — On this line, most Carleton students should provide at least two documents:
- Certificate of Enrolment – This document shows that you are currently enrolled. It is available from Carleton Central under Student Online Applications. Choose option 3 for a visa or study permit.
- Undergraduates – Statement of Student Progress (contact the ISSO); Graduate students – Letter indicating program completion date (contact the FGPA)
- Proof of Financial Support — You must show that you can pay your tuition and living expenses for the next year. For many students, the proof is a letter from their parents together with 3-4 months of their bank statements. If you have a scholarship, or other sources of funding, you can use other documents.
- Recent digital photo of you
- Optional: Client information — This is a letter of explanation and/or additional documents to make your application as convincing as possible.
You can find more details and answers to frequently asked questions in the ISSO’s Study Permit Renewal Guide (PDF, 303 KB)
Waiting for Your New Study Permit
An IRCC officer will assess whether you have met the terms and conditions of your study permit before they approve your application.
If the officer needs additional documents to help them make a decision, you will receive an email and there will be a detailed message in your online account. You must reply before the deadline, or your application will be refused.
If you applied for the extension before your current study permit expires, you are allowed to continue to study even if your old study permit expires while you are waiting.
If your application takes longer than IRCC’s current processing times, you can send an inquiry using the IRCC Web Form.
When your application is approved, you will receive a message in your online account. IRCC will mail the study permit to your Canadian address.
If you need a new Electronic Travel Authorization, it will be included with your new study permit. If you need a new Temporary Resident Visa, you can apply for it after your new study permit arrives