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Frequently Asked Questions

Take a look below and see if we answered any of your preliminary questions regarding Canadian immigration. We are here to support you throughout your journey!

  • We consult and advise clients on strategies for immigrating to Canada as temporary residents (students and workers), as economic immigrants under Express Entry or one of the provincial nomination programs, or to reunite family members in Canada. We also work with Canadian employers to obtain Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) to support work permit applications.

  •  Entrusting your immigration journey to iHeartCanada professionals is an investment in your future. We have a commitment to ethical and competent immigration consulting. Our work is licensed and regulated by the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council.

  • When you hire iHeartCanada as your immigration representative, your application will be submitted and managed through our “Authorized Paid Representative” portal. You will not have direct access to your application through this portal, but you will be able to access your information at any time by contacting us for a file update. You can also access your file at any time by calling IRCC at 1-800-242-2100.

  • Hiring an immigration professional to prepare and manage your application is an investment in your dreams. Your case is unique and requires a customized strategy to get you where you want to be in Canada. There is a fee of CAD 350 (plus HST) for your discovery session, which is automatically applied as a deposit/credit to your immigration application once you hire your representation services (non-refundable if you choose not to proceed with iHeartCanada). Our professional fees range in price depending on a case basis.

  • iHeartCanada immigration and education consultants stand by the professional work we do on your file. Most of our work happens even before your application is sent to our immigration authorities. However, the decision on your file is not ours to make. Refunds are only provided for professional errors and omissions that lead to a negative decision on your file. Complete fee and refund details will be found in your Visa Services Agreement.

  • The discovery session happens after we review your intake questionnaire. We arrive at this consultation prepared to discuss your questions and concerns. We will review immigration program options, discuss fees and expenses, and begin to develop a strategy to achieve your immigration dreams in Canada.

  • A study permit is a document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) (formerly Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)) that allows someone who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to study in Canada for a specified period. Your study permit is what gives you legal status to remain in Canada.

  • A study permit is not the same as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). A TRV is a visa sticker placed inside your passport that allows you to enter or re-enter Canada. Depending on where you are from, you may require both a TRV and a study permit. Foreign nationals of certain countries may be TRV-exempt so they do not need a visa.

  • In general, foreign nationals need study permits to study in Canada if they intend to study for more than six months.

    Exceptions:

    If you are studying at the post-secondary level for less than six months, you do not require a study permit. This is usually the situation with our visiting exchange students and scholars who are here for only one semester.

    Visit IRCC for the full list of exceptions.

    If you have minor children, they may be able to study without a study permit. Visit IRCC to determine if your child(ren) is considered a minor, and to find out if your child(ren) is eligible to study without a study permit.

  • Processing times are always changing and are different for each application. Visit IRCC for up-to-date processing times.

    Under What are you applying for? , proceed to the following:

    * Select Visiting, studying, or working temporarily.

    Under Which temporary residence application? , proceed to the following:

    * Select study permit extension if you are applying to extend your study permit from within Canada.

    * Select study permit if you would like to apply from outside of Canada.

  • Scenario 1: You apply for a new status document before your previous document expires called Implied status:

    Implied status means the applicant has the right to continue studying or working under the same conditions of their previous permit until a decision is made on their application for extension or renewal. Implied status only applies as long as the person remains in Canada. The relevant Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations are R185, R186(u) and R189.

    For details, visit the IRCC section on implied status.

    Scenario 2: You apply for a new status document after your previous document expires

    If your study permit expires before you apply for a new status document, you have fallen out of status. You must now apply for a restoration of status. Restoration of status

    If a worker or student has lost their status, they have 90 days to apply to restore their status. It also means they cannot work or study until they receive their new status document.

    For more information on restoration of status, visit IRCC.

  • It depends on when you applied to extend your study permit.

    Scenario 1: Apply for a new status document before your previous document expires

    If the IRCC receives your application before it expires, you have implied status until a decision is made on your application. That means you, as the applicant, have the right to continue studying or working under the same conditions as your previous permit until a decision is made on your application for extension or renewal.

    Implied status only applies as long as the person remains in Canada. If you leave Canada while on implied status and return, you have given up your right to implied status and must wait for your new permit before you can study or work again.

    The relevant Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations are R185, R186(u) and R189. For details, visit the IRCC section on implied status.

    Scenario 2: Apply for a new status document after your previous document expires

    If the IRCC receives your application after your existing status document (study permit) expires, you have fallen out of status, which means you cannot work or study until you have a new status document. It also means you must not only apply to extend your status document but must also pay an additional fee to restore your status. If you have fallen out of status, you have 90 days to apply to restore your status; otherwise, you cannot restore your status from within Canada and must apply for a new study or work permit from outside of Canada.

    Visit IRCC for more information on restoration of status.

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