Application KIT

The following link will provide you the application in PDF format.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.html

Please Note: There is another application form, the Visitor Visa form, which is given in the Canadian High Commission, which is longer in size and not in the A4 size format. The soft copy of that form cannot be found on the net. Its the Visitors Visa form issued only at the CHC. Please ensure that you collect this form the previous day from the information counter, which is also the token counter at the CHC. Otherwise make sure you get the form at around 7:45 am before the Counters open at around 8:00 am on the day you are standing in line for application for the Visa. You can fill in the information in the Visitor Visa form in that gap of 15 mins while standing in the line. Please have your completed IMM 1294 form ready. If you are not able to follow this paragraph, read the remaining part of this document. There is nothing wrong in submitting both of

them (The visitor Visa form and the IMM 1294). You can even prepare an additional student questionnaire (ASQ) in your own format.

The Previous Day

You better pay a visit to the Canadian High Commission (CHC) the previous day itself to make sure you know where it is exactly situated, so that you dont need to grope your way through the early hours of the next day. There is no parking available for visitors/applicants, so please come in auto/taxi, else make sure your vehicle has someone to take it back after dropping you. There will be nothing to eat at the waiting place except for tea and chips packets. I suggest you eat before coming and also get a packet of biscuits and a bottle of water. It is very hot in Delhi in the months of May/June and early July.

The CHC is situated on Shantipath, a beautiful road, bordered with green grass on both sides. I feel, the CHC is the best looking building among all the other Diplomatic Offices. The CHC is the corner building on the junction of Shantipath and the road from Chanakya Cinema hall. Come to the right hand side of the building where you will see some counters and a queue system with a scrolling display board on top (which never stops). This is the CHC token counter where you will have to wait the next day early morning.

The Visa day

Checklist

  Completed IMM1294 form

  Completed Visitor Visa form ( else obtain it before going to counter)

  Completed Additional Student Questionnaire

  Payment Mode (DD or Cash)

  3 Passport Size Photographs.

  Official Admission letter (+ 1 copy)

  Academic Marks cards (+ 1 copy)

  TOEFL/GRE score sheets (+ 1 copy)

  Financial Documents (+ 1 copy)

  Other Miscellaneous Documents (+ 1 copy)

Go to the embassy at around 5:30 am. It is a convenient time. All the people are made to sit in the lawn adjoining Shantipath. There will be someone noting down the order with which people arrive at that place so that later they get their turn to approach the counter in the order of their arrival. The line is formed around 7:35 am. People walk in a single file towards the counters. Collect the Visitor visa form from the security personnel who stand in front of the counter shutters, if you havent taken it the previous day. The security people are rather rude. They never answer anything properly. The token counters open at 8.00 am where u will have to show them your completed application forms (IMM 1294, Visitors Visa form, additional student questionnaire), your original passport and copies of all the documents (financial proof, marks cards etc). You also need 3 passport size photographs to be given. They will issue u a token. They will put your passport, your application forms and the copy of all the documents that you showed them in a cover and give the cover to u. At this point of time, there is no need to take out your original documents. The only originals that are to be shown at the token counter are the completed application forms and passport. The remaining has to be copies. It is better to have notarized copies of all your documents. You will come to know why, later. Then you will enter a room for security check. The security people direct you inside the embassy campus through a small door.

Once inside, a small flight of steps leads you bank of America counter, pay the DD (Rs 3750/-) or cash (Rs 3750 + Rs 75) for visa fees. The DD is addressed to 'Canadian High Commission', payable at Delhi. The Bankers will take the plastic folder given by the token issuer at the entrance. The plastic folder will have your Original passport, completed application forms and a copy of all the documents. Then go inside and sit in some huge hall. People would definitely love to take a leak, as there are no toilets outside. But be quick as your number might be called. The numbers are called in random order. Then u will be instructed over a microphone. A person from the "reception" counter will call out your name and token number and ask you to proceed to the room specified by him. Mine was Room 1. The rooms are all dark sliding doors along the walls of the huge hall. There u will have to converse with the visa officer who sits on the other side of the window. It will look like a modern railway reservation counter. Some of the rooms have seats where you can sit down. Some of them are standing interviews. He/She will be seeing the copies of your docs that were taken in the bank. The officer will have all of them in front of him/her.

Then they ask you about your application form if all information entered is correct or not....

They ask you some questions, which can be like

a) The name of the college/univ you got into, course duration, fees

b) What interest u had for the course?

c) Why did you choose Canada?

d) Why this subject of your choice?

e) Tell me abt your parent's jobs?

f) Whats their salary?

g) Where are/were u working?

h) Why did you leave your old job?

i) Do you have a proof of work experience from that firm?

j) Marks cards of Degree achieved?

k) Degree certificate?

l) TOEFL score sheet?

m) Financial statements and questions related to the kind of documents you submit.

All the originals that you carry have to be given to the visa officer one by one on demand through a small opening in the lower part of the glass on the desk. The originals are verified with the copies. They are then immediately returned back to you. The visa officer will ask you to show one document at a time. To ensure faster verification, its better you all get it attested by a notary beforehand. This will reduce the time and will lessen the officer's burden and he/she might be pleased by your commitment and hard work taken for the attestation. The interview lasts for about 15 - 20 mins depending on how many documents that you have. Mine took 20 mins while some people had for 40 mins.

Remember to answer to the point as he/she types everything on the computer, all your answers should be very clear. Every thing you say is referred later by the high commissioner or diplomat who makes the final decision in the afternoon. Please do not put on an accent. All the visa officers are of India origin. They will surely understand what you speak. Any additional docs also have to be shown. People who are working, beware as they might ask u, "does your company know u are here for Canadian visa"... thats a damn tricky question. One of the guys along with me in the queue was asked this. He said no and they didnt bother to ask anything more abt that topic. I really do not know what should be the answer. All I can say is be honest.

Then once you are done, the officer asks you to come at 4 pm to know the outcome. For some students they might hint about the result now itself. You can go out and do wherever u like till 3:30 pm. There are no phone booths nearby. You do get drinking water there. Many prefer to sit on the Shantipath grass and wait till 4 pm. Then assemble in a line or in some random fashion, as the token numbers are called in random again. There is a big chaos at this time. People will rush and form a queue. If you want, you can be a part of it; otherwise also, you can stand at the corner and barge in if you hear your number called. Generally, student authorizations are issued the last.

When number called go to the counter. Give the token foil. If you get back your passport with only a white sheet of paper with some crosses in the boxes on it, then I am afraid you haven't made it. The cross in the box corresponds to the reason why you were rejected.

On the other hand, if you see a green color computer printed paper along with your passport which comes with some more white papers then you are lucky as thats nothing but instructions for medical test. The green sheet will be your IMM 1017, which will have your details printed on it and has to be handed to the medical officer on the medical test day. That means U MADE IT THROUGH!!

It is advisable to get your medical tests done in Delhi itself. You can consult any one of the 4 doctors whose contact information will be given in one of the sheets that accompany your IMM1017. If you have around 2-3 months before u fly out to Canada, you can get the medicals done in whichever city you are from. Delhi is preferred as verification of medical reports can be done by the Medical officer at CHC faster then if done with doctors in other cities. Please remember to bring along your negatives of your passport size snaps, because they are needed to be appended to your X-Ray report sheet.

There will be a confidentiality waiver form that will be issued to you along with the instructions for the medical test. You will have to complete that form and send it to the CHC. If you are not using any interpreter then you dont need to fill anything in page 2 of that form.

*points to remember*

1 There is another application form thats a long paper which is the Visitor Visa form that has to be filled before queuing for token early in the morning.. I have never seen it before.... i filled it out along with my IMM1294.. And u also need ASQ.. just make sure u have all forms..

2 Please do not show your passport to people other than the staff of CHC. Incase anyone in the queue asks, then you can refuse saying that its inside the bag in an order and would not like to disrupt the sequence of docs in the file.

3 After collecting passports at 4 pm, please do not walk around with them in the hand as there were past cases of passport snatching around the premises.

4 The confidentiality form will read something like "I,_________________, hereby authorize all Govt authorities, including Dept of Justice........etc etc".

This form should be completed by you in a few days after you finish you medical test and you will have to send it to

Visa Section,

Canadian High Commission,

7/8 Shantipath, Chanakyapuri,

New Delhi - 110021.

Make sure you put your Full name and the File number along with you address on top of the envelope in which you are sending the confidentiality waiver form. You also have the option to take it with you when u collect your visa if you do not want to send it by courier. I guess this will surely help and make it easier to all

applicants. All the very best!!

Collecting the Student Authorization

8:00 am

Give about 4 weeks time since u have applied and then go to the same CHC, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi at around 8 am. Please note that you do not need to

stand in the queue. You would have stood in the queue some weeks back when you had your interview. The embassy security does not allow anyone to form a line till around 7:45 am. All the people are made to sit in the lawn adjoining Shantipath. When the security officers come to inspect the line before it moves in a single file towards the counter, please mention to the officer that yours is a pending case. A pending case refers to the fact that you have already applied and have come to collect the visa and if you have any other extra documents to be submitted, like your confidentiality waiver form etc. Please mention the same words pending case, else they treat you like an applicant and ask you to stand in the line.

When the line is formed just before the counter opens, you will need to hand over your letter from the CHC, which was given to you when u had got instructions for the medical test. The letter looks like some kind of checklist. Generally most of the people will get that letter with the box adjacent the Medical report, ticked. If you submit that to the security, he/she will hand it over inside the counter. You will have to wait for around 30 mins for your name to be called and then you will have to go to the mentioned counter number and submit your passport. Remember, you do not have to stand in the line.

Some candidates will not have the letter from CHC (checklist types). The same thing happened in my case. Instead of that you can write a covering letter, mentioning your full name, file number and passport number. You can hand that over to the security and wait for your name to be called.

If you have gone early to the CHC and if you happen to be among the 1st 20 in the morning queue, then its better you stand in the queue as your work will be done much earlier than if you wait for your name to be announced while standing away from the main line.

Once you approach the counter, hand over your passport to them. They will give you a token in return. There is no need to give them anything else. You will be asked to come in the evening at 4 pm to collect your passport. Your mornings work is done. Retreat to a more comfortable place till afternoon.

4:00 pm

Get back to the counter at 4 pm. I advice you not to stand in the line as there is no use. Your token number will be called at random and neither sequentially nor in the order in which you are standing in the line. Once your number is called, please go with the token to the respective counter and then collect your passport. It will have 2 stapled papers to the last page/cover of the passport, along with a good looking visa stamp affixed in one of the empty pages of the passport. The affixed stamp is actually your visitor visa, which will have a multiple entry visa for your duration of study. The papers stapled have to be kept carefully, which are your student authorization letters. The 2 papers have to be submitted at the port of entry into Canada.