In recent months, there has been an increase in visa refusals for students applying to study in Canada. According to information from IRCC, approximately 30 percent of all study permit applications are being refused. This means that tens of thousands of prospective students who have been accepted to a Canadian school are facing the disappointment of having their study permit applications rejected.
If your study permit application is refused by IRCC, there are two courses of action you can take: appeal the refusal or address the reason(s) for refusal in a new application. However, to be successful, you need to first understand why your application was refused. Usually, the main reason for refusal will be listed in the refusal letter you receive. You can also request access to the notes the visa officer reviewing your file made to get a better idea of how to address the concerns brought up.
There are several common reasons why a study permit application might be refused, including:
Financial concerns - if IRCC questions your ability to financially support yourself while studying in Canada, you need to carefully review the financial documents you submitted with your application and address the concerns raised by the visa officer. Make sure that you submit additional documents to prove that you meet the show money requirement.
Intent to leave Canada after studies - in your study permit application, you need to convince the visa officer that you will leave the country when your study permit expires. If the visa officer isn't convinced, you need to rework your statement to try to address their concerns directly. Providing a convincing narrative for why you want to study in Canada and why you will return home after you graduate is important.
Choice of program - study permit applications are sometimes refused if the visa officer doesn't understand the logic of your choice of program. You need to clearly explain why you want to study your chosen program in your personal statement and provide additional supporting documents if necessary.
Letter of acceptance - before you can apply for a study permit, you need to receive a letter of acceptance from a registered Canadian educational institution. If the visa officer doubts that your letter of acceptance is genuine or that you have actually met the program requirements, he or she might refuse your application. Review the school documents that you submitted and make sure that all of the documents are clear and easy to read.
Travel or identity documents - if you don't provide the required travel or identity documents, your study permit application may be refused.
In summary, if your study permit application is refused, don't panic. You have the option to appeal the refusal or address the reason(s) for refusal in a new application. To be successful, it's important to understand why your application was refused and take steps to address those concerns in your next application. With careful preparation and attention to detail, you can increase your chances of a successful outcome.