Immigration Procedures

To study in Québec you will need two documents:

  1. The provincial Ministry of Cultural Communities and Immigration of Québec (M.C.C.I.) will issue the Certificate of Acceptance/Certificat d'acceptation (C.A.Q.).
  2. The federal Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada will provide the Study Permit/Permis de séjour.

You will need both of these to study at Bishop's University.

IMPORTANT:
Please take special note: Students who have been accepted to programs that will be completed in less than six months, have the option of studying without the CAQ and the Study Permit. However, should you want to seek on-campus employment during your studies, you should apply for the CAQ and the Study Permit. The reason for applying for these documents (normally not required for studies less than six months) should be clearly indicated on each of the applications).

 

Where and how to apply for a Certificate of Acceptance (C.A.Q.):
The process begins with the application for a Certificate of Acceptance for Québec.


On-line CAQ Application
You are required to use the on-line application form for your CAQ:
www.caq-studies.gouv.qc.ca(English version)
www.caq-etudes.gouv.qc.ca(French version)
www.caq-estudios.gouv.qc.ca(Spanish version)

By completing your application on-line you:

  1. will receive a personalized list of documents that you need to mail to the Montreal office to complete your application;
  2. can access the status of your application;
  3. will receive messages in your on-line file with possible requests for additional information (electronic messaging is much faster than regular international mail);
  4. will be able to download all correspondence from your on-line file.

You will need the following to apply for a CAQ on-line:

  1. an email address
  2. Visa or Mastercard (either your own card or your financial sponsor’s)

IMPORTANT:  You must take note of your User code and Password, which you will need each time you consult your on-line file.


Demande de CAQ pour études en ligne
Vous pouvez compléter votre demande de Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) pour études en ligne et consulter ensuite votre dossier en ligne à l’adresse suivante :
www.caq-etudes.gouv.qc.ca
www.caq-studies.gouv.qc.ca(version anglaise)
www.caq-estudios.gouv.qc.ca(version espagnole)

La demande en ligne exige :

  1. que vous possédiez une adresse de courrier électronique (e-mail);
  2. que vous puissiez payer les frais de traitement de la demande par carte Visa ou Master Card (la vôtre ou celle d’une autre personne).

Faire votre demande en ligne est facile et vous permet :

  1. d’obtenir une liste personnalisée des documents à fournir par la poste afin de compléter votre demande;
  2. de suivre en ligne le traitement de votre demande;
  3. d’être avisé lorsqu’un nouveau message est disponible dans votre dossier;
  4. de télécharger sans délai toute correspondance concernant votre demande.

IMPORTANT : VOUS DEVEZ CONSERVER LE CODE D’UTILISATEUR ET LE MOT DE PASSE QUE VOUS CHOISIREZ EN COMPLÉTANT VOTRE DEMANDE EN LIGNE. ILS VOUS SERONT DEMANDÉS CHAQUE FOIS QUE VOUS CONSULTEREZ VOTRE DOSSIER.

Web site:  http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca

How to apply for a Study Permit:
Once you have been issued a C.A. Q., Immigration Québec will have sent your C.A.Q. reference number to the Consulate or Embassy nearest you. You must then apply for a Study Permit Visa from the Canadian Embassy or Consulate which is handling your application. Some embassies will send you the Study Permit application form and others will require you to pick them up. Because of these discrepancies, we encourage you to remain in close contact with the embassy handling your file so that you can obtain the proper forms as soon as possible.
www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/student.asp

Every application for a Study Permit must be accompanied by:

  1. Photocopy of your passport
  2. Your letter of admission to Bishop's University
  3. Proof of sufficient financial resources available to you, without engaging in employment while in Canada
    • to pay your tuition fees, (waived for exchange students)
    • to maintain yourself during your period of study
    • to pay transportation costs to and from Canada
  4. the CAQ (Certificate of Acceptance) issued by the Government of Quebec's Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l'Immigration

There is a processing fee of $125 for the Study Permit. This document gives you permission to study at only one institution in Canada, and is normally valid for the period of your programme. Government regulations allow international students to work in Canada only on the University campus and with a valid Study Permit.

Students from the USA can obtain their Study Permit directly at the border or customs when entering Canada by presenting:

  1. C.A.Q.
  2. Official Letter of Acceptance from Bishop's University
  3. $125.00

NOTE TO INTERNATIONAL AND EXCHANGE STUDENTS RETURNING TO BISHOP'S UNIVERSITY WHOSE Study Permits HAVE EXPIRED:
Do not let your Study Permit expire; renew it at least three month before the expiry date. Students should contact the Immigration Canada Centre if your course of study is longer than expected (Case Processing Centre, 6212 55th Ave., Vegreville, Alberta, T9C 1W1 or fax: 780-632-8101); if you plan to change schools; if you want to accept work; if you will finish your studies before the course is ended and you do not plan to leave immediately. If you withdraw from the University, you must also inform Immigration Canada, since you no longer fulfill the requirement of attendance at a post-secondary institution. (N.B. You cannot change your immigration status from Visitor with a Student and/or Employment Permit to landed immigrant from within Canada.) 

Should you require any assistance or additional information concerning the Canadian Student Visa, please contact the Canadian Embassy or Consulate nearest you outside Canada, or the Canada Immigration Centre, 315 King Street West, Room 212, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 1R2. Telephone: 1-888-242-2100 (toll free from within Canada) or 514-496-1010.

Applications to renew a Study Permit may be obtained from the International Student Office at Bishop's or may be downloaded from the following website address: www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp