Student Direct Stream to process Canadian study permit applications in 20 days- May 2019
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced a processing time standard of 20 calendar days for Student Direct Stream study permit applications submitted electronically by legal residents of China, India, Vietnam and Philippines. In the May 2 update, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) states that the reduced processing standard only applies if a study permit applicant submits a complete electronic application, biometrics details and all the required documentation. IRCC stated that paper applications will continue to process under Student Direct Stream (SDS) processing until May 15, 2019. The SDS is an expedited study permit processing program available to legal residents living in China, India, Philippines or Vietnam who want to study in Canada at a post-secondary Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and who meet specific requirements by providing upfront documentation. In order to become eligible for the Student Direct Stream, individuals must first obtain a letter of acceptance from a DLI. Applicants must also provide proof of tuition payment for the first year of study at a DLI in Canada, purchase of a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000, completion of an upfront medical examination, and an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6 or higher in each language skill or a Test evaluation de Francais (TEF) score that is equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for French.