Reasons for Student Visa Rejection in Canada 2023 – If you’re planning on studying in Canada, it’s important to know why your student visa might be rejected. While each case is different, some common reasons can lead to rejection. This blog post will explore some of these reasons for student visa rejection in Canada and after knowing them you can avoid them.
Canada is one of the most preferred study destinations for international students. With world-class education, friendly visa and immigration rules, and better life prospects it is one of the most sought-after study destinations globally. As a large number of people apply for a student visa, it becomes difficult to get a visa. Due to its huge popularity, it follows a rigorous visa process. After COVID-19, Canada student visa rejection rate has shot up to 40-50%. In the pre-COVID scenario, the Canada student visa rejection rate was nearly 15-20%. In this article, we will inform you of the reasons for the rejection of Canada Student Visa and what you can do to avoid that.
As per IRCC, the number of international students holding a Canada student visa is 6,21,565 in 2022. In 2022, there are around 2,30,000 applications submitted for the Canada Study Permit from Nigeria. The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration tabled a report in the Canadian House of Commons in May titled ‘Differential treatment in recruitment and acceptance rates of foreign students in Quebec and rest of Canada’. According to this report, in 2021, there were 91,439 Study Permit applications were rejected from Nigeria and 2,25,402 were accepted. The refusal rate was around 41% which is higher than the typical refusal rate of 30%.
According to the report, the number of study visa permits increased by 52% from 2,64,625 in 2016 to 4,02,427 in 2019. This was the highest number of study permits issued since Canada’s study visa programme started.
Canada Visa Rejection Reasons (Student Visa)
Below we have given some of the popular reasons for the rejection of Canadian student visas.
- Financial stability: The authorities may find that you are not financially sound and won’t be able to support yourself while studying in Canada. You need to show that you can arrange a sufficient amount of funds till the time you are staying there.
- Academic performance: As you are applying for a Student Visa, you need to have adequate academic credits or scores as mentioned by your educational institution and the Canadian government to get the visa approval.
- Letter of acceptance: In order to apply for a valid study permit, you need to prove that you received a letter of acceptance from a registered Canadian educational institution. Apart from this, the candidate should also meet all the requirements for the program you applied.
- IELTS or TOEFL Score: Whether you are going under the SDS program, PNP, or SPP program, you need the minimum IELTS or TOEFL Score to prove language proficiency. The candidate needs to secure a minimum IELTS or TOEFL Score as set under these programs for securing a student visa. Students should also know the SPP and non-SPP visa requirements to study in Canada.
- No permanent stay: The study permit is a temporary visa, and it has an expiry date. The visa officer must be convinced that you will come back to your home country after completing your studies. If the visa officer is not satisfied and finds you a potential immigrant, then your Student Visa can be rejected. It does not mean that students cannot extend their visas. Canada is known for its visa-friendly policies for international students. You can extend your visa by following the due process. However, at the time of the visa interview, you need to convince the visa officer that you are not going to settle there permanently.
- Selecting a study program that does not align with your previous studies: If your selected study program does not match your past educational background or work experience then you can be questioned on this. In this case, you should be able to explain why you are changing your field of study.
- Inadequate documents: You can check out the list of documents required to get a Canadian Student Visa here. Make sure to carry all the important documents at the time of the visa interview, and also carry the documents sequence-wise and clearly, so, the officer can go through them easily.
- Return to home country: Study permit is valid for a particular time period. The applicants need to showcase that they will come back to their home country after completing their studies. However, this does not mean that one cannot extend their study visa or get a PR. It is important to show that the student will not stay in Canada once his/her study permit expires.
- Other Reasons: Other reason for Canada student visa rejection might include an increase in the number of applications. If the number of applications to Canada increase, it leads to pendency and an increase in the Canada student visa rejection rate. This issue is beyond the control of a student. Hence, it is advised that a student must focus on the factors that he/she can control.
Reapply for a Student Visa after Rejection
Candidates can reapply for a Canadian Student Visa after getting a rejection earlier. However, first of all, evaluate why your application was rejected last time and make sure this time you won’t repeat the same mistake. As per the new guidelines issued under the SDS Program, the Canada Student Visa processing time can take up to a maximum of 45 business days. In addition, you must be aware of the steps that need to be taken if your student visa gets rejected.
Know the Exact Reasons for Rejection of Canada Student Visa: It is important to know why your application was rejected. When the students receive a refusal letter, they do not get a specific reason based on which their visa was rejected. Students must take the help of the GCMS or CAIPS notes. Citizenship & Immigration Canada uses the Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System or CAIPS to process all visa applications in overseas offices. GCMS computer (Global Case Management System) has now superseded the CAIPS system. Students who do not have a Canadian PR or citizenship can take the help of various consultants to apply for the GCMS or CAIPS notes. Students can also authorize a representative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to apply for the information. Once you have applied, your file request will be processed by IRCC in Ottawa, Canada. You should get your notes in around 5 weeks (35-40 days).
How to Reduce Canada Student Visa Rejection Chances?
Rejection of a student visa is something that a student must avoid at all costs. Even though, there are certain factors that are beyond your control; however, you can definitely think of taking certain precautionary measures. Here are some tips that will help you in reducing the chances of getting your Canada student visa rejected:
- In order to be considered for a Canadian student visa, you must submit a full application with all necessary supporting documentation.
- Throughout your application, be careful to include complete, correct information and attempt to prevent any errors or inconsistencies.
- Be sure to include proof that you can support yourself financially while pursuing your studies in Canada.
- Be prepared to respond to any additional inquiries the visa officer may have in addition to being asked why you wish to study in Canada.
- Be knowledgeable about current immigration laws and keep up with any changes if you are seeking a student visa to Canada.
- Make sure that your statement of purpose is well drafted.
Canada Student Visa Rejection Reasons FAQs
Q. What is the Canada student visa rejection rate?
A. Canada student visa rejection rate was nearly 35% in 2019. In 2022, the rejection rate stood at 60%. This led to an increase in applications for the UK and the US. However, things have improved since then and the acceptance rate is set to increase in the upcoming period.
Q. Can I reapply for a student visa after rejection?
A. Yes, you can reapply for a student visa even after a rejection. However, make sure to understand why your visa was rejected and work on those reasons first. If you feel that your application might get rejected again, do look for alternative options. Alternative options might include choosing a different course, a different University, a different country, or staying back in Nigeria. If you feel that your profile needs improvement, you should work on it.
Q. What are some common reasons for Canada student visa rejection?
A. Some of the common reasons for Canada student visa rejection include lack of financial funds, loopholes in academic performance (including choice of course), low scores on English-language proficiency tests, incorrect information provided in the documents, inadequate documents, etc. Moreover, the visa officer should be convinced that you would return to your home country after the completion of your course.
Q. What points should I keep in mind before applying for a Canada student visa?
A. Before you apply for a Canada student visa, make sure that your documents (academic, professional, and financial) are in order, and that your forms are duly filled without mistakes. In addition, make sure to prepare well for the visa interview. If you feel that might face rejection (which can happen to anyone), you can keep a backup plan to deal with any unforeseen event.
Q. What should I do if my Canada student visa gets rejected?
A. If your Canada student visa application faces rejection, it is advised that you find the exact reasons for the same with the help of GCMS or CAIPS notes. Moreover, you should work on the weak areas, in your profile, which led to the rejection of your visa application. You can reapply once you have made the necessary changes in your application. If you still face rejection, it is advised that you start looking for an alternative; such as changing your course or the country.
