Joe Laramie

Dear experts,

I'm Canadian and returning to Canada with my common-law spouse, and we
will be applying for sponsored permanent residency for her once we get
there. She wants to take French classes when we arrive in Montreal. I'm
trying to find out whether she needs a study permit.The rule at

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/permit-who.html

says this:

----
You do not need a Study Permit if you are planning to take a course or
program in Canada with a duration of six months or less. You must
complete the course or program within the period authorized for your
stay in Canada.
----

Now, her classes run from Sep.20th until Nov.19th, then a second class
is from Jan 17th until March 18th. This is a total duration of 6 months
less 2 days, counting the time between terms as well. Which means that
the first sentence of the quoted rule is fulfilled.

BUT we will arrive more than 2 days before her class starts. The plan
is for her to renew her visitor's permit in time for an extension at
the 6-month mark, assuming we haven't got her permanent residency by
then (I expect it will take a little longer than that.) So, it seems to
me that she will "complete the program within the period authorized for
her stay in Canada", since at all times she will be authorized to stay
in Canada assuming the visitor's visa is renewed.

Can you experts confirm that I've parsed this rule correctly?

Second, she says she thought she read that an extension to a study
permit is not needed if there is a PR application pending. I can't find
this anywhere, and neither can she now. Has anyone ever heard of this?
Many thanks --Joe

Jim Humphries

On her arrival the six months begins, so the plan may not work unless she
arrives exactly on time. There is no possibility of extending the study
period. They mean initial authorized stay without extensions. It is for
personsintending to take a short course and then depart.

--
Jim Humphries, former visa officer
"Joe Laramie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Dear experts,
    > I'm Canadian and returning to Canada with my common-law spouse, and we
    > will be applying for sponsored permanent residency for her once we get
    > there. She wants to take French classes when we arrive in Montreal. I'm
    > trying to find out whether she needs a study permit.The rule at
    > http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/permit-who.html
    > says this:
    > ----
    > You do not need a Study Permit if you are planning to take a course or
    > program in Canada with a duration of six months or less. You must
    > complete the course or program within the period authorized for your
    > stay in Canada.
    > ----
    > Now, her classes run from Sep.20th until Nov.19th, then a second class
    > is from Jan 17th until March 18th. This is a total duration of 6 months
    > less 2 days, counting the time between terms as well. Which means that
    > the first sentence of the quoted rule is fulfilled.
    > BUT we will arrive more than 2 days before her class starts. The plan
    > is for her to renew her visitor's permit in time for an extension at
    > the 6-month mark, assuming we haven't got her permanent residency by
    > then (I expect it will take a little longer than that.) So, it seems to
    > me that she will "complete the program within the period authorized for
    > her stay in Canada", since at all times she will be authorized to stay
    > in Canada assuming the visitor's visa is renewed.
    > Can you experts confirm that I've parsed this rule correctly?
    > Second, she says she thought she read that an extension to a study
    > permit is not needed if there is a PR application pending. I can't find
    > this anywhere, and neither can she now. Has anyone ever heard of this?
    > Many thanks --Joe