Immigration Advising Services Suspended Indefinitely

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

We regret to inform you that effective immediately, Laurentian University will no longer be providing students, staff, or faculty with any advice related to Canadian immigration matters. This includes ceasing all immigration-related workshops and/or individual appointments, as well as terminating access to all guides/instructions for visa/study permit/work permit applications.

This change has come into effect because all Canadian universities received communication from Citizenship and Immigration Canada indicating that an amendment (Bill C-35) to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) now prohibits international advisors “from producing advice to students and faculty with regard to immigration applications, such as visas or student and work permits” unless they are certified under the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC). [Source: CIC C-35 Letter to CCIEM]

Laurentian International advisors will continue to help with questions and concerns regarding students’ arrival in Canada, their transition to university life, cultural and community transition, medical coverage/dental insurance, financial resources, housing services/issues, student and community activity programs, and any other personal non-academic matters. They will also continue to provide students with Eligibility Verification Number issuance for off-campus work permits and all required letters of enrolment.

Those who require assistance with immigration matters should contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada directly, or are welcome to contact or visit Laurentian International and staff will direct you to the appropriate resources.

For more information regarding these new rules:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/representative/do-dont.asp

Contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada:

By telephone (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.): 1-888-242-2100

By email: question@cic.gc.ca

Website: www.cic.gc.ca

Laurentian International:

By telephone (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.): 705-675-1151 ext. 1557 or ext. 1558

By email: kroininen@laurentian.ca or llefebvre@laurentian.ca

Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)

Citizens of some countries need a TRV in addition to a Study Permit to enter Canada. See this page on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website for a list of countries whose citizens require a TRV.

As stated here on the CIC website, a valid TRV is required if an international student leaves Canada and wishes to re-enter Canada. For more information about TRVs, see Glossary: TRV.

The application package is available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

Note: When asked to include a Letter of Enrolment with your application, fill out this form and send it to international@laurentian.ca.

Study Permit

Your Study Permit is the document that allows you to stay and study in Canada (see Glossary: Study Permit).

As an international student, it is your responsibility to ensure that your Study Permit is always valid.

For tips on how to avoid application delays, go to this page on the CIC website.

The application package is available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

Note: When asked to include a Letter of Enrolment with your application, fill out this form and send it to international@laurentian.ca.

On-Campus Employment

Citizenship and Immigration Canada regulations permit most full-time international students who hold a valid Study Permit to work on campus up to 20 hours per week while they are registered as full-time students. For more information regarding CIC’s on-campus employment regulations, click here.

If you have found employment on the Laurentian campus, you will need to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) using this form. Bring your application, your valid study permit and the employment contract to the nearest Service Canada Centre at 19 Lisgar St. in downtown Sudbury.

Off-Campus Employment

Some students are eligible to work off-campus during their studies in Canada. See this section of the CIC website for more information regarding eligibility and regulations.

The is available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

Applying for a U.S. Visitor Visa

It is recommended that you live in Canada for at least 6 months before applying for a U.S. Visitor Visa. Further information and links to necessary forms are on the Visa Categories and Requirements webpage of the U.S. Consulate General.

This online Nonimmigrant Visa Application can be completed in order to assist you in expediting the visa application process.

Note: When asked to include a Letter of Enrolment with your application, fill out this form and send it to international@laurentian.ca.

Feature Links

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)

Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program