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Citizenship and Immigration Canada has changed some its policies regarding international students and application procedures for Study Visas. In general, people holding a "Temporary Resident Visa" (formerly Visitor Visa) or a Working Holiday Visa are able to study for a period up to 6 months without obtaining a Study Visa.
If you want to study for more than six months or if you are undecided, it is best that you apply for a Study Visa before arriving in Canada. If you have a Temporary Resident Visa and want to change your visa to a Study Visa, you will need to do so from outside of Canada.
The closest Immigration Office where you can apply for a Study Visa is in Seattle. If you choose to apply for a Study Visa in Seattle, you will need to have the correct visas to enter the United States.
For more information, please contact your local Canadian Immigration Centre. You can also visit Consulate General of Canada in Seattle .
Employment Options for International Students In the Canadian Tourism Industry:
This information is a general guideline for students interested in pursuing employment within the Tourism Industry in Canada. Please understand that the following information is not complete nor does it guarantee employment for any international student regardless of their country of origin.
Complete guidelines, rules and regulations can be obtained from the Canada Immigration website at www.cic.gc.ca. As policies will vary from country to country, it is very important that you consult the Canada Immigration Centre (Consulate or Embassy) that is in your home country for complete information.
Co-op - Paid Work Experience
Paid work experience opportunities are now available for International Students who attend programs that have co-ops included in them. More details to follow. For information right away, please contact the College Enrollment Coordinators at vancouver@tourismcollege.com or surrey@tourismcollege.com.
Practicum - Work Experience
Most private career colleges and some public colleges will offer practicums or work experience as a part of their program. In order for international students to participate in the practicum placement, students will be required to complete a "Change of Terms" form and submit it to Canada Immigration. If your program includes a practicum, this will be indicated on your Letter of Acceptance that you receive from the school at the time of Registration. Only students participating in programs with practicums that are considered an integral part of the training or education will be eligible to participate. The Enrollment Coordinator or Registrar at the school offering the program will be able to tell you if international students are able to participate in the practicum. Practicums are generally unpaid and will vary in length depending on the school and program of study.
Working Holiday Visa
Canada has established agreements with a number of countries that allows foreigners to apply for a Working Holiday Visa. This term may change based on the country of origin (Youth Worker Exchange) or specific area of work (World Organization of Organic Farmers). The majority of Working Holiday Visas are held by Japanese people but this program is also available in limited numbers for Koreans and Germans. People with Working Holiday Visas are able to study for a maximum period of six calendar months without applying for a Study Visa.
Post Graduate Work Permit
International students that complete a degree program at a Canadian University are eligible to apply for a work permit. This permit is valid for up to one year but it must be applied for within ninety days of graduation.
Foreign Worker Application
In some industries, such as Tourism, there is a reasonable and justifiable need for workers that have technical, language and cultural skills that may not be available within the Canadian population. For example, in Banff, Alberta, there is a significant need for tour guides that are able to speak Japanese and are also familiar with the customs and expectations of Japanese clients. Many tour-guiding companies will complete a Foreign Worker Application with Human Resources Development Canada. Once the application is approved, the worker will then have to complete the application for a Work Permit with Canada Immigration including the Foreign Worker Application results that have been returned to the employer. A new application will need to be made to both HRDC and Canada Immigration at the end of the term of employment.
For more information on employment in Canada, please contact your Registrar, Employment Counsellor, Enrollment Coordinator or Canadian Immigration Centre.
As an additional resource you may want to contact Immigration Consultants:
CTC Alumni, Steve Kyaw Aung, LL.B who is a Certified Canadian Immigration Consultant. He can be reached at the following address: 800-675 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V6B 1N2. Phone +1 (604) 630-2912, email steve@immisolve or immisolve.com
Former CTC Enrollment Coordinator, Ms.Miwako Aratake, CCIC I.D.# M095157. Miwako is a Certified Canadian Immigration Consultant and her company is called GlobalMind Immigration Services Phone 1 (604) 893-7010, email info@globalmindimmigration.ca or www.GlobalMindImmigration.ca.
