INTERNATIONAL CURRENT STUDENTS
Immigration status & status changes
It is crucial to maintain legal status while studying or working in Canada. If you hold a valid study or work permit and comply with all regulations, you have legal status and are authorized to stay as a temporary resident under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). If your permit expires, you need to apply to restore your status within the appropriate timelines to remain in Canada.
International student status
If you require a study permit to study in Canada, are in Canada with other temporary resident status, or are a refugee/protected person claimant whose notice of decision is pending, you are deemed to be an international student when enrolled at the university. You are subject to all policies and regulations applicable to international students including the assessment of tuition and fees at the international tuition rate.
If you hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, or you are a refugee/protected person, your fees will be assessed at the domestic rate.
Immigration status changes
If your immigration status changes after admission, you must notify the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) of the change and provide the necessary supporting documentation. Deadlines apply for changes to tuition assessment.Documents such as Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) can be uploaded directly into your student record through myStudentSystem. Please upload the front and back of your PR Card.
- Save your document as a PDF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, DOC or DOCX file.
- Log in to myPortal.MacEwan.ca using your Network ID and password.
- Launch myStudentSystem from the Quick Links menu.
- From your student homepage, Select My Documents.
- Select the Document Type from the dropdown menu. Choose Residency Verification.
- Click Upload Document. A pop-up window will appear.
- Click My Device to search for your file, or
- Drag your file into the box
- Click Upload.
Tuition and fees will be assessed at the domestic tuition rate beginning in the academic term that the change in immigration status takes effect.
If notification and supporting documents are received by the OUR by the last day to add or drop regular session classes, the change takes effect in the current academic term. If notification and supporting documents are received after the last day to add or drop regular session classes, the change will take effect in the next academic term.
The Refugee Protection Claimant Document (RPCD) serves as proof you have submitted a claim to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
If your claim for refugee protection is accepted, you receive a positive refugee notice of decision which grants you protection under Canadian law.
If your claim is rejected, you receive a notice of decision that outlines the reasons for the rejection.
The Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) is issued to refugees who have been approved for permanent residency in Canada. This document is important as it contains your official date of arrival as a permanent resident in Canada.
It is crucial to note that merely declaring your presence in Canada does not automatically grant permanent residency status; you will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document, which serves as official confirmation of your status.
Validating/Verifying your COPR
If you are outside Canada and your application for permanent residency is approved, your COPR should be signed by an immigration officer when you land in Canada to be considered valid.
If you are in Canada and your application for permanent residency is approved, you can confirm your permanent resident status online using the Permanent Residence Portal. This secure online portal simplifies the process by eliminating the need for in-person interviews in most cases.
When confirming your permanent residence online using the portal, it's important to verify the legitimacy of the email you receive. A genuine email from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):
- will have an email address ending in @cic.gc.ca, and
- will be presented in both English and French.
The subject line to look for is “IRCC - Permanent Residence Portal (PR Confirmation) / Portail de résidence permanente (Confirmation de la RP).” Additionally, the email should provide a link to the official confirmation page.
Restoration of temporary resident status
If your study or work permit expires, you must apply to restore your temporary resident status within 90 days of the expiry date if you plan to stay in Canada. Restoration of status can take several months. Please consult with an international student specialist at MacEwan International before submitting an application.
If a temporary resident in Canada has lost their status under section 47 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), they can apply to restore their status under section 182 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
Status and authorization are not the same under the IRPA. An applicant can only restore their status to that of a temporary resident and their previous authorization. For example, a student who lost their status cannot apply to regain temporary resident status with authorization to work.
Eligibility
You may apply to restore your temporary resident status:
- If you have not been out of status for more than 90 days
- You stopped studying or working the moment your status expired
- You meet the initial requirement for your stay
- You will remain in Canada until the decision is made
Application
You must pay the restoration fee and applicable fees for a study or work permit at the time of application. As part of your application, you must explain in detail why you are out of status.
Follow the appropriate guide from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to apply:
Apply for restoration online through your secure (IRCC) account.
- If your application is approved and restoration is granted, a study permit or an appropriate permit outlining the new conditions is issued.
- If restoration is refused, you will receive a letter notifying you of the refusal and the reasons for it. Please follow the instructions in the letter. We recommend that applicants who have been refused leave Canada immediately.