International Student Q&A

 

Please note: This is not a legal document and information may change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.

 

What happens to my study permit if I start studying at another Canadian university?

If you change post-secondary schools, the school you plan to change to must also be a Designated Learning Institution(DLI). Please check the DLI list and confirm your new school is a DLI before you commit to changing schools. You must inform the IRCC each time you change post-secondary schools. Changing the post-secondary school on your account is a free service.

 

How do I update my DLI in my study permit?

To do this you will need:

• an online account
  • If you applied for your study permit on paper, you need to create an account and then link your application.
• your study permit number
  • It begins with the letter “S” and is at the top right of the permit.
  • For security reasons, they may ask you to provide a few details from your application, so have it handy.
• your new school’s designated learning institution (DLI) number
  • You can find it on the list of designated learning institutions.
• your new Student Identification Number (Student ID)
  • You can find it on the acceptance letter your new school sent to you.
• your start date at your new school.

You don’t need a representative to change your DLI, even if you used one to apply for your study permit. You can do this yourself if you have your study permit application details.

To get started, follow this link.

 

If I am not transferring to another Canadian institution or graduating, can I stay in Canada?

If you do not plan to stay in Canada under a work permit or resume studies at another institution under a study permit, you must leave the country after a maximum of 150 days. During this time, you may not work. During these 150 days, your study permit must be valid. If you are graduating, your study permit expires at the expiration date or within 90 days, whichever is soonest. You can find out more here.

If you plan on staying in Canada beyond the 150 days or if your study permit expires before the 150 days, you need to apply for a visitor record. You can apply online or by paper from within Canada to change your immigration status to visitor. The application should be submitted no more than 90 days after program completion or before the expiry of your study permit, whichever is soonest. Please check out this page for further details on how to obtain a visitor record.

Once you switch to a visitor record, any new application for a study permit or work permit must be made outside of Canada.

You cannot apply for a post-graduation work permit after switching to a visitor record.

 

I am about to graduate and want to apply to the Post-Graduation Work Permit. Does the suspension of academic activities at Quest impact my work permit application?

No. What allows you to apply for the work permit is the fact that you are graduating from a DLI institution.

For more details, follow the link.

 

I want to become a Permanent Residence (PR) in Canada after graduation. Is that possible?

Not right away, but it is possible. The easiest way is to first apply for the post-graduation work permit, then gain qualifying work experience for 1 year, and then apply for PR. There are detail slides on this entire process here.

 

Will the suspension of academic activities at Quest impact my Permanent Residence (PR) in Canada?

No. If you obtain a Quest degree or a Bachelor’s degree at another Canadian DLI university, you will gain Canadian education points in your PR application. The suspension of academic activities at Quest, does not impact the validity of your degree. Thus, it will not impact your PR application. In your PR application, you will need to provide proof of education (such as a transcript). Please ensure to keep a digital copy of both these documents saved on a cloud drive. If you are curious to learn more about the PR point system, follow this link.

 

I need an English proficiency test to apply to another university. Could Quest help me with that, or do I need to take a standardized test?

Quest can help you. We have prepared an English Proficiency Letter which you can send to your transfer university. In most cases, they will accept this in lieu of a standardized test. Please email registrar@questu.ca to request a copy.

 

What do I do if I need more help or have further questions?

Please contact Barbara.fernandes@questu.ca. She may be able to help, or she will refer you to a Certified Immigration Consultant.