Canada is among the fastest-growing destinations in the world for international students. However, Canadian Immigration Department has been rejecting up to 30 percent of the study visa applications from international students.
Receipt of a letter of acceptance from a Canadian school/college makes you feel that the most challenging part is over. However, the rejection of a Canadian study visa can be a bitter and frustrating experience as it can likely ruin your study and travel plans.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), it turns down one in every ten applicants for apparent fraud. Some others rejected because they do not have enough money to show that they will meet the tuition fees and other living expenses during the period of study. The third category of applicants is often refused because their study plans do not make any sense.
These rejections have hit hopeful students from India and other countries who dream of studying and making a life in Canada. To make sure the application gets approved, it is essential to understand the reasons behind the visa rejections in Canada.
Canada Study Visa Refusal – Reasons
If your Canada Study Visa suffers a rejection, the visa office may mention the main reason in the refusal letter. In case you want to understand the reasoning better, you can request access to the visa officer’s notes to get an idea of how to address the issues that caused the rejection in the first place.
1. Financial Reasons
It is the first reason for Canada study visa rejection. As part of the Canada study visa application, you have to submit necessary financial documents that demonstrate you have enough money to pay for the trip to Canada, the tuition fees for the duration of the study, and your and any accompanying family member’s living expenses during your stay there. A six months’ bank account statement is required as proof for sufficient ‘show money.’ However, if the government still does not believe that you have adequate funds, it could result in the rejection of your study visa application.
How to address this problem
If your Canada study visa application has been rejected for insufficient ‘show money, you must first review the documents carefully. You can then address the concerns raised by the visa officer and submit any additional documents required, which will prove that you meet all the requirements for ‘show money.’ It is also essential to understand that this money only needs to be ‘shown’ as a bank balance and available for Canadian spending. Note, this money need not be spent there.
2. Failure to leave Canada at the end of your studies
Every student applicant must understand that the Canada study visa is a temporary one with an expiration date. In the application, you have to convince the government of Canada that you will indeed leave the country once your study period is over. It is the second Reason for Canada study visa rejection.
Previous travel history, family ties between persons in Canada and your native country, and the purpose of your visit can cause the visa officer to doubt whether you will overstay. This can cause a rejection of your study visa application.
It is also true that the Government of Canada enables students to extend their study permit, allowing them to stay on and work in Canada or transition into becoming a permanent resident of the country. However, through the study visa application, you have to convince the officer that you will not stay illegally in Canada once your visa period is over.
How to address this problem
You can overcome the problem if you can demonstrate that you have many good reasons to return to your native country. This concern can be addressed only in your personal statement. To convince the visa officer in this regard, you will have to rework your personal statement. In this stage, you will have to bear in mind the ‘dual intent’. Here, in-depth knowledge of how to address these concerns of visa officers and how best the student applicants can address the concerns prove very helpful.
3. Choice of Study Program
Applicants sometimes have their study visa applications rejected when the visa officer cannot understand the student’s choice of the study program. Unconnected subjects chosen by applicants such as that of a nursing graduate with work experience looking to do an MBA in Canada may be puzzling to the visa officer.
How to address this problem
If your study visa application has been rejected for your choice of subjects, you have to clearly explain in your personal statement why you would want to study these subjects in Canada. Here, a close examination of the concerned visa officer’s notes may be helpful.
Whatever be your choice of subjects for study in Canada, you have to communicate to the visa officer the reason for choosing the particular program.
4. Letter of Acceptance
Before applying for a study visa to Canada, you have to receive a Letter of Acceptance from a registered Canadian educational institution. You should have also met all the study program requirements. In case the visa officer doubts the genuineness of the Letter of Acceptance or whether you have met all the eligibility requirements, then your study visa application may be rejected.
How to address this problem
In this case, you have to carefully review all the school documents and resubmit them according to the requirements stated. Any additional documents required also have to be submitted. It is essential to ensure that the Canadian institution you have chosen is a Designate Learning Institute.
5. Travel and Identity Documents
The absence of a proper record of your complete travel history and incomplete/unclear personal identification documents can cause a rejection of a Canada study visa application.
How to address this problem
Make sure that your identity documents are genuine, clear and easy to read. In case of gaps in your travel history, ensure that you find out the doubtful periods from the visa officer’s notes and submit additional evidence/documentation to cover your travel history during these periods.
Why Should You Work with a Canadian Immigration Lawyer?
The study visa application process is prone to become complex and lengthy if you do not entirely understand the nitty-gritty of the process.
Every time the visa officer raises doubt about your study visa application, it means there will be a significant delay in the processing. The application is then sent back, and you will have to re-apply with the additional documentation required. This is a lengthy and complicated process. The applicant must fill in the relevant information. Extensive documentation has to be included to support the applicant’s details and clear any doubt raised by the visa officer.
