Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for a Student Visa in Canada

Canada is one of the most favored studying abroad destinations among Indian students. This is because Canada is one of the safest countries to live in, has a diverse culture, and offers the highest quality education at affordable fees.

However, there is one dark secret that not everyone knows. Canada is one of the most rigorous countries when it comes to approving visas. Canada has a history of rejecting 36% of Indian student visa applications in 2019. In addition, with the increasing demand for Canadian visas from people from all corners of the world, more than 30% of visas get rejected by the Canadian Embassy each year.

Visa work is tedious, and one slight mistake can lead to visa rejection. Here are the common mistakes to avoid when applying for a Canadian student visa:

Lack of a clear study plan

A study plan is one of the most important factors to consider while studying abroad. A student should have a clear study plan — which subjects the student is picking up and why? What are your future goals after completing the program? Why choose the particular course and college or university?

A lack of a clear study plan can lead to Canadian study visa rejection. Therefore, it is crucial to have a clear idea about the program you will be pursuing in the host country.

Academic Performance

An applicant’s academic background is one of the most critical factors considered in the student’s application to get a visa. No matter how much active in sports or curriculum activities, a student with a poor academic track record cannot apply for a student visa in Canada.

Wrong Course Selection

We all love learning new things every day. Unfortunately, though it is a great thing to be the jack of all trades, it doesn’t apply when you are planning to study abroad.

During the Canada Visa application process, officers examine your previous education and work history. Choosing a course that doesn’t match your education or work history can also result in visa rejection.

The major reason is a sudden change in program or streams out of the blue doesn’t guarantee you will be doing better. For instance, if you have an education or job history that includes Biology, you cannot suddenly apply for the Coding programmer course.

In addition, applying to the wrong course level can also lead to visa rejection. For instance, if you have a Ph.D. in Business Management history, you cannot apply for a PG Diploma in Business Management, because a PG (Post-Graduation) degree is below Ph.D.

Lack of justification in the SOP

Statement of Purpose — SOP is one of the most critical documentation that can make or break your career. SOP is an elaborate statement of a student compelling the primary purpose of studying abroad, selecting the particular course, college, or university, and discussing their career goals.

Your SOP provides the admission committee and visa authorities with an opportunity to evaluate your goals in the context of the school’s ethics, capacity, and standards. It also provides you with all the support you need to achieve them.

The admission committee and visa authorities can assess your outlook on life, career goals, ethical values, technical expertise, and vision for the future through the statement of purpose. Therefore, it is critical to emphasize that you get the opportunity to tell them why you are applying to higher education and what your primary objective is. Lack of justification in the SOP can be critical to getting your Canadian student visa.

In addition, a student visa is intended for a temporary stay in Canada to complete their studies. Therefore, an unclear intention to return to India can also be one of the reasons for the Canada visa refusal.

Lack of supporting documents

There is a list of the documents that are required to be provided. Any missing document without a proper explanation on a cover letter or any document not in English or French that is not accompanied by a certified translation can also result in visa rejection.

In addition, be sure to submit your application on time. Applying at least 12–15 weeks ahead of the proposed date is highly recommended. Applications received after April 1st for May — Summer intake, after August 1st for September — Fall intake, and after December 1st for January — Winter intake will not be processed in time for the start of class and could lead to visa refusal.

Inauthentic documents

Another critical reason for Canada visa refusal is that the student’s documents are inauthentic. Often, the candidate doesn’t have proper documentation and submits fake documentation. Submitting inauthentic documents is a CRIME! It results in visa rejection and can land you in jail with a heavy penalty and a lifetime ban from being eligible for a Canada visa.

History of overstaying when on a previous visit to Canada

Canada’s immigration system uses the Global Case Management system, and the details are shared with major countries globally. Thus, if you have ever overstayed on your previous visit to Canada or any other country globally, there is a high chance that your visa may get rejected. On the other hand, though, if you have a strong reason for overstaying and it is valid as per the immigration, you might get a chance to get a Canadian student visa.

Failure to meet health standards

An IRCC (Refugees and Citizenship Canada) approved panel physician examines the student’s health in a medical exam for Canadian immigration to obtain a long-term Canadian Visa — Study or Work permit. The medical examination status will determine whether there are medical reasons for denial of admission.

In an IRCC-approved medical exam, your panel physician will collect your medical record, perform a physical examination, and perform any other tests that are deemed relevant by the doctor. The physician may refer you to a specialist for additional testing if they need more information about your health. However, it may be challenging to obtain a visa if you have severe health conditions that could endanger others.

Failure to explain the purpose of travel

Studying abroad asks you to step out of your comfort zone; thus, one of the most critical parts of applying for a visa is to explain the exact purpose of your travel. A student applying for a student visa needs to have a clear intention of travel — to study and how long you plan to stay. Failure to explain the purpose of travel can get a visa rejection.

Final Thoughts

Despite avoiding the mistakes mentioned above, there can be other factors involved in Canadian study visa refusal. Therefore, it is highly advisable to seek expert guidance in applying for a Canada study abroad visa.

Founded in 2008, Global Colliance is a registered study abroad consulting firm. It has a team of experts with more than 10 years of experience helping students achieve their dreams of studying abroad. Global Colliance offers 400+ programs in Canada, the UK, the USA, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.

Visit us at www.globalcolliance.com and get answers to all your study abroad-related queries.