International Students: Important information about study permit applications and delayed exams

International Students: Important information about study permit applications and delayed exams

York University, Ontario and Canada will continue to welcome international students this Fall semester and we look forward to seeing you soon. If you have questions, please contact iadvisor@yorku.ca.

York’s comprehensive and mandatory quarantine program continues to support the safe arrival of international students in Toronto, Canada and to effectively prevent the spread of COVID-19. Review the York Quarantine Information webpage for details.

Apply for your Study Permit before May 15 

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced temporary policy changes regarding study permit applications.

If IRCC receives your complete study permit application for Fall 2021  by May 15, 2021, you will receive a decision by August 6, 2021, in time to attend the Fall semester.

You may be unable to submit a complete application until after May 15, 2021 due to COVID-19 related restrictions, such as reduced service at visa application centres (VACs) or other providers. In this case IRCC has confirmed that your application will be processed as quickly as possible, but you may not receive a final decision before the Fall 2021 semester begins.

As a reminder, you can begin your classes online from outside of Canada even if your study permit, temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) has not yet been processed.

Visit the Study in Canada page for more information.

Cancelled and Delayed Final Exams 

We are committed to working with you to ensure that any changes to school terms and/or examinations due to COVID-19 will not negatively impact your admission eligibility.

If you have been impacted by final exam cancellations, we will accept the results provided by your school as final. In cases where your exams are significantly delayed and results may not be received before the start of classes, connect with us at intlenq@yorku.ca and we can discuss your pathway forward to begin your studies in the Fall.

Please note, English proficiency requirements will not be waived due to test centre closures.

If you have other extenuating circumstances that may impact your admission eligibility, please contact us at intlenq@yorku.ca.

Drop-In Advising and Immigration Sessions 

Connect with International Student Advisors and licensed immigration specialists to answer your questions. We offer regular webinars and drop-in sessions to address topics such as COVID-19 immigration updates, study permits, work authorization, and remote learning.

For these and any other questions, we recommend you attend an immigration workshop, book an appointment with an International Student Advisor or email iadvisor@yorku.ca.

We look forward to supporting you in your transition to York this Fall.

Vinitha Gengatharan
Executive Director, York International