Information from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continues to change due to COVID-19. It is recommended that you refer to the IRCC website for updates and changes.
If you're currently in Canada, you must have a valid study permit or have maintained student status to be registered in classes, whether the classes are remote or in person. If you're outside of Canada, you can begin or continue your studies online/remotely if you have a valid study permit, have been approved for a study permit or have applied for a study permit before your program begins in fall 2021.
Yes, you still need a valid study permit to continue your studies at Laurier, even if your courses are now offered remotely. More information on the extension process is available on the IRCC website or you can register for a workshop.
The 2021 fall term of the LEAF program will be virtual. We highly recommend that you obtain your study permit to begin studying in the LEAF program. Studying in the LEAF program, whether remotely or in person, does not impact your eligibility for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP).
If you start your studies without a valid study permit, there’s no guarantee you’ll be approved in the future to come to complete your studies. Laurier will not issue tuition refunds for completed courses due to a study permit rejection. You will also be required to pay tuition for partially completed courses in accordance with the guidelines set in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar. We highly encourage you to get a study permit before you start your courses to eliminate these risks.
If you will remain in Canada during this time, always plan ahead: check the current processing times to find out how long it will take to process your application, and be sure to submit your application before your status expires. Even if there are delays in processing your application, applying to renew your study permit or work permit will allow you to stay in Canada and continue studying or working while you wait for your application to be processed. This is called maintained status.
Students that are submitting applications from within Canada are temporarily exempt from providing biometrics. Find out if this biometric exemption applies to you. This exemption applies to new applications as well as applications already in progress. If you have already submitted your application and paid the fee you will automatically be refunded once your application is finalized. If you are submitting your application now and the online application system asks you to pay for biometrics (CAN$85) you do not have to pay for it and you can ignore the Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) that will be sent to you. Students that are submitting applications outside of Canada must still provide biometrics. Find out what to do if you aren't able to provide biometrics. Please note that if you are unable to provide documentation for your application, IRCC will no longer be automatically extending deadlines. You need to make sure you check your IRCC account and update IRCC with reasons as to why you cannot meet the deadlines. IRCC will no longer be holding incomplete applications open, so if you miss the deadlines, IRCC may refuse your application.