I think that's a good idea. The OP shouldn't forget to mention that he's special and that CIC have to take account of that. Twat.

I am an actual student, lol. I was just curious if the process was as tortuous as it seems. I wondered if they really put that much effort into checking these things out, that's all. Or if it was a turn up, look at contract, stamp piece of paper and off you go.

I just find the whole process very frustrating need a SIN in order to bring certain funds across from the UK which would allow me to study without needing a job, however need a job to get the SIN.

I'm not trying to do anything bad, per se, I'm just trying to speed up the access to my own money, which I would then spend in Canada.

I think you're missing the point. You have no particular rights to bring your pension to Canada unless and until you are legally resident here.

And what's a student visa other than a document saying that I'm a legal, if only temporarily so, resident?

A temporary resident is one that is expected to leave at some point in the future. You would need to be a permanent resident or citizen. A student visa just allows you to stay longer than 6 months to study and work on campus.

Just for the record, Canada is not unique in this regard. Getting a National Insurance number in the UK is equally arduous, and in fact, even less clear cut than a SIN.

Well... I went the fully legal approach, I found a part time job on campus. Hurrah!

The employer filled out Service Canada's contract form, by hand. Didn't print it on headed paper, nothing. I took that, plus my student visa to Service Canada and they accepted it and gave me a SIN without any confirmation or checking.

While I'm glad that I didn't risk it, it does seem that it's very very easy to get around this system, if you wanted to. And it's slightly frustrating since this means I could have had this SIN weeks ago!

Another dumb and equally frustrating thing. I don't even need to keep the job to keep the SIN! Now I have one, it expires when my student visa expires.

Onwards to the next hoop to jump through. Just wish my PRV would bloody well come through so I can get past all this lol.