Study Permit Guide for Incoming

Fall 2022 International Students

HOW TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT YOUR FALL (SEPTEMBER) 2022 APPLICATION

Please review the following questions before submitting your

study permit information.

The information in this guide is subject to IRCC policy changes.

SECTION 1 SECTION 2
SECTION 3
I am waiting for a IN VAS: Confirm
decision from attendance and Preparing to start
IRCC on my study upload your program in
permit immigration September
application documents

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 I am waiting for a decision from IRCC on my study permit
SECTION 1
application

1 What you need to start classes in September 2022 3

2 What should I do if I receive a study permit refusal? 4&5

IN VAS: Confirm attendance and upload immigration

SECTION 2
documents

3 Confirm your attendance for the Fall (September) 2022 term 6&7

4 Upload your immigration documents to VAS 8

SECTION 3 Preparing to start your program in September

5 Register for courses 9 & 10

6 Prepare to travel to Canada 11

7 Prepare for start of term 12

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 What you need to start
1 classes in September 2022

I am waiting for a decision from IRCC on my study permit

SECTION 1
application

Please be aware that the IRCC temporary policy allowing students to complete
100% of studies online from outside Canada ends on August 31, 2022.

All international students are required to be in Canada for the Fall 2022 term.

Documents required, to start your courses in September:

Students who wish to start their courses must first receive:

Letter of
A document sent from a visa office to confirm approval of
Introduction/Port of
study permit. Students must present the letter when they
Entry letter issued by
arrive in Canada.
IRCC; OR

A document issued by IRCC that authorizes a foreign

national to study at an educational institution in Canada
A valid study permit
for the duration of the program of study. Study permit is
issued upon arrival at the Port of Entry.

In order to cross the border and start courses in Canada, you will require:

This allows you to enter or re-enter Canada. This is not

sufficient to remain in Canada to study. You still require
your study permit.
Study Visa; OR an eTA To enter Canada as an international student, in addition
to the study permit approval, you need to have either a
Temporary Resident Visa or an electronic Travel
Authorization (eTA).

See our Pre-Arrival Resources page for our Student Travel Guide, government
updates, and important considerations when planning your trip to Canada.

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 What should I do if I receive a
2 study permit refusal?

Study Permit Deadline is July 29, 2022

In the case of a study permit refusal, students are eligible for full refund of $1,500
CAD (or $10,000 CAD for CEA programs) confirmation deposit and any tuition fees
paid if proof of refusal is uploaded to VAS by the start of classes, September 6.

• Refusals after the study permit deadline are subject to our refund policy on
the following page.
• Students who receive a study permit refusal will not be able to defer their
application.
• Students are responsible for dropping courses (if previously registered).

Add/Drop Deadline is September 15, 2022

*This deadline only applies to students who previously confirmed attendance by

the Study Permit Deadline and uploaded study permit/proof of approval.

September 15 is the last day to cancel/drop courses or programs in the current

term and be eligible for 100% tuition refund, excluding the confirmation deposit,
student association fees, and health and dental fees.

Students must ensure that they drop courses through their MyBVC account to be
eligible for a tuition refund. Students registered in the English Language Learning
(ELL) program, Health Care Aide program or the Centre for Entertainment Arts
(CEA) program must contact the Office of the Registrar to drop their before the
deadline.

Please see next page for more information on refund policy.

4
 What should I do if I receive a
2 study permit refusal?

Attendance Decision Refund Options

Students who submit proof of a Students will be refunded their confirmation

study permit refusal before the deposit of $1,500 CAD (or $10,000 CAD for CEA
start of classes, September 6. programs) and any tuition fees paid.

Students who start their program and decide

Students who start their to drop their courses by the add/drop*
program and decide to drop deadline, will receive a tuition refund. After the
courses by the add/drop start of courses, students will not receive a
deadline. refund on their fees.

See below for more information.

Please visit the Bow Valley College tuition and fees webpage and the refund
webpage.

For more important dates and deadlines, see here.

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 Confirm your attendance for the
3 Fall (September) 2022 term

IN VAS: Confirm attendance and upload immigration documents

SECTION 2
by Study Permit Deadline, July 29, 2022

Please confirm your attendance and upload supporting immigration documents

in VAS by the Study Permit Deadline. If you have not received study permit
approval by July 29, then you will not be able to start your program in September.

Students who do not confirm their attendance and provide the necessary
documentation by the deadline, will be at risk of having their application closed
without refund.

Please access your VAS

portal to confirm your
attendance for
September 2022

After you sign into your VAS account:

STEP 1:

Please send a message through our VAS portal, and inform us of one of the
following:

• I received a study permit approval and will start courses in September 2022:
→ Upload your study permit approval by July 29. See STEP 2, AND
→ Send a message in VAS confirming your decision.

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 Confirm your attendance for the
3 Fall (September) 2022 term

• I received a visa refusal:

→ Upload your study permit refusal by July 29. See STEP 2, AND
→ Send a message in VAS to proceed with your refund.

• I want to request a deferral (approval not guaranteed; students who have

already received a deferral do not qualify):
→ Upload the document from IRCC confirming the date that you applied for
your study permit by July 29. See STEP 2, AND
→ Send a message through your VAS account, to request your deferral.

• I am still waiting for a study permit approval by July 29:

→ Send a message through your VAS account, informing us that you are
waiting for a response and proceed to request a deferral (if eligible) or
cancellation.

STEP 2:

Submit your study permit documents. Please upload one of the following
documents:

• Official study permit; OR

• Letter of Introduction; OR
• Acknowledgement letter from IRCC confirming the date that you applied for
your study permit; OR
• Refusal letter

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 Upload your immigration
4 documents to VAS

How to upload and send documents in VAS:

Questions? Use your VAS account to send us a message. Do not send email.

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 5 Register for courses

SECTION 3 Preparing to start your program in September

Fall 2022 Term: Course registration & delivery mode

With our return to in-person learning, international students are expected to

register themselves for in-person courses when available and must take the
majority of courses in course due to study permit requirements. If any of your
courses do not offer an in-person option, you can take it online instead, however
you may only select these courses when no other option is available.

• Course registration for new learners opens as of June 20, depending on the
school you are registered in.

• Students attending the English Language Learning (ELL) program, Health

Care Aide program or the Centre for Entertainment Arts (CEA) program will
be automatically registered in their courses.

***If you are waiting for your study permit, we still encourage you to
register for courses (up until Study Permit Deadline, July 29) to avoid
being waitlisted for any necessary courses.***

When registering for courses, please be aware:

• Distance Learning (online) VS in-person: International students are advised

to register for courses with in-person learning when available. If your
program offers a mix of online and in-person learning, it is highly
recommended that you register for the in-person options when offered.
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 5 Register for courses

o You can view descriptions of course/class delivery modes here:

Bow Valley College Course Delivery Modes

o For more PGWP information: Post-Graduation Work Permit | Bow

Valley College

Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) validity and application -

Canada.ca

• You must register for a minimum of 3 courses to maintain full-time student

status. All post-secondary programs have a minimum full-time credit load of
9 credits – most courses are 3 credits, but not all. International ELL courses are
15 credits.

For more information: Full-Time and Part-Time Status | Bow Valley College

*Please contact Academic Advising for help with course selection.

• If your program includes an in-person practicum/clinical experience/work

experience courses: You will need an approved co-op work permit in
addition to your approved study permit.

For more information, please visit our webpage: Co-op Work Permits.

For more information:

• Course registration dates: Important Dates.

• For information on course registration and to check the delivery mode
options for your program: Online Course Registration.
• For self-course registration help, please visit Academic Advising or email
advising@bowvalleycollege.ca.
• For more PGWP information: Eligibility criteria | IRCC
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 6 Prepare to travel to Canada

Entering Canada:

See our Pre-Arrival Resources page for our Student Travel Guide, government
updates, and important considerations when planning your trip to Canada.

Transport Canada continues to update its requirements for travelers, as well as

update its restrictions for travelers from certain regions when applicable. Please
ensure that you visit the Transport Canada website before making travel plans:
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid

Register for our webinars to help you prepare:

– VIEW WEBINAR SCHEDULE –

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 7 Prepare for start of term

Keep an eye out for emails to your MyBVC email address informing you
of all onboarding activities for new students.

As early as 8 weeks before the new term, you will receive an email asking you to
join your New Student Onboarding Team on Microsoft Teams, designed to help all
new international students prepare to start at Bow Valley College. In late July or
early August, you will receive an email inviting you to register for New Student
Orientation and International Student Welcome.

• New Student Orientation | Bow Valley College: August 30 & 31

• International Student Welcome: August 30 & 31

• New Student Onboarding Team | Microsoft Teams

International Education has prepared an onboarding program for all students

that are starting their program in September 2022.

For questions, please email issc@bowvalleycollege.ca or book an appointment

with an international learner advisor.

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