Studying in Canada: Secure offer letters but delay study visa applications, advise education consultants

Canada has recently announced several changes to its international student program, including discontinuing the Student Direct Stream (SDS) pathway for students.

Tirath explained that the new changes are yet to be reflected on the Canadian embassy’s portal but consultants are continuing to process applications under various categories. Tirath explained that whenever there is any update in visa rules, it is usually accompanied by a lot of confusion. “Until the embassy provides written clarity on the new rules, it is better to wait,” he said.

“Rushing to apply without this clarity could lead to unnecessary complications as the same happened last year in August when there was an update regarding the IELTS score. Earlier it was perceived that 6.5 bands were required but when the embassy updated it on the portal, there was proper clarity that overall six bands were required in the four volumes,” he explained.

In this period of uncertainty, students should secure offer letters “immediately”, Tirath said, because with increasing competition for admissions, obtaining an offer letter now ensures a reserved spot in the programme.

“Only minimal payments requested by the colleges should be made to reserve the seat. Students should hold off on additional payments for the chosen courses and visa applications. Students should carefully choose from the list of 970 courses recently released by various institutions, prioritising programmes that offer better job prospects post-graduation,” said Tirath, adding that he recommended that students use the waiting period to strengthen their financial documentation. He also highlighted the option of deferring applications to the 2025 intake, giving students additional time to improve their financial and academic profiles.

“Proof of four months’ required funds in the account will be crucial for visa approval and having funds in the account for longer than the stipulated time could be advantageous,” consultant Gurpreet Singh, who is based in Kapurthala, said.

The consultants suggested that updates are likely to appear on the embassy portal in one or two weeks. If there are no updates in the coming weeks, students should consult experienced consultants for advice, they added.

“The advice to delay visa applications comes as some consultants push students to apply immediately,” Gurpreet said, urging students to rely on genuine consultants who prioritise long-term success over short-term gains.