Two-stage assessment process for initial study permit applications
As a
facilitation measure to support the fall 2020 intake of international students,
the department is implementing a temporary 2-stage assessment process in which
applicants will receive a notification from IRCC once they have passed the
preliminary eligibility assessment (stage 1 of the 2-stage process) and before
they give their biometrics.
Applicants who
have submitted their biometrics but have not completed their immigration
medical examination or provided a police certificate will also benefit from
this process.
The 2-stage
assessment process for study permit applications only applies to initial study
permit applications and does not apply to in-Canada study permit extension
applications.
This temporary
2-stage assessment process for study permit applications intends to provide a
certain degree of reassurance to international students who cannot provide all
of the required documents or information needed to finalize the assessment of
their study permit application.
There is no
guarantee that the study permit application will be approved. For example,
applicants who pass the preliminary eligibility assessment may still be refused
based on eligibility reasons once biometrics are collected. Once services begin
to resume, applicants who are able to submit missing information or documents
previously requested of them will begin to do so, at which time the application
will move into the second stage of processing and officers will process the
application to finalization.
Eligibility for 2-stage assessment process
To be eligible
for this 2-stage assessment process, applicants must have submitted a new study
permit application electronically on or before September 15, 2020, and their
program of study must begin in the fall 2020 (or earlier). The applicant must
also submit all the documents needed for an officer to make a preliminary
eligibility assessment. If the client is unable to provide any of the required
documents, they will not be eligible to receive a preliminary eligibility
assessment until they submit the information or documents requested of them
(with the exception of biometrics, medical examinations and police
certificates).
Applicants who
receive a positive preliminary eligibility assessment will receive a letter in
their MyAccount.