Canada Student Visa Rejection Reasons 2022: Reduce Rejection

With more students applying for a Canadian student visa, there is also a rise in Canada student visa rejections. Not including a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from the DLI is one of the most common rejection reasons for Canada student visa. International students who applied for their undergraduate studies in Canada suffered the most rejection and those who applied for their doctorate suffered the least.

You know that a student visa and study permit is required for international students willing to pursue studies in Canada. Students can apply for a Canadian student visa/ study permit after getting admission in a Designated Learning Institute (DLI). The number of international students applying for a Canadian student visa has increased over the years with over 640,000 students having a Canadian study visa as of December 2019.

Table of Contents

• Common Reasons Why Canadian Student Visas Get Rejected
• Additional Reasons for Refusal that Apply to all Visitors to Canada
• Student Visa Rejection due to Covid-19
• Tips to Reduce the Chances of Canada Student Visa Rejection
• What to do if Canada Student Visa/ Permit is Rejected?

Common Reasons Why Canadian Student Visas Get Rejected

Canada is one of the most favorable study destinations for international students mainly due to its affordability and straightforward immigration process. However, it is significantly harder to get a Canadian student visa because of the high volume of applicants and it is prevalent for students to have their application for a Canadian visa rejected. Some of the Canada student visa rejection reasons are listed below:

• Insufficient Funds
• Choice of Program
• Issues with the Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
• English Language Proficiency
• Issues With Travel/ Identity Documents
• The Intent of Returning to Home Country after Completion of Studies
• Insufficient Job Prospects in the Home Country
• Academic Performance

Insufficient Funds

International students applying for a Canadian student visa should submit a bank certificate or bank statement that will serve as proof that the student has sufficient funds to be able to live and study in Canada. The Canadian visa officer may reject the visa application if he/ she is convinced that the student will not be able to cover the travel expenses, tuition fees, and day-to-day living expenses in Canada. Applicants can deal with this issue by ensuring that he/ she has adequate funds for more than one year, along with the additional documents supporting the finances. The students should not merely focus on the minimum fund required for the first year of the course/ program in Canada.

Choice of Program

A Canadian student visa may get rejected if the visa officer questions the student on his/ her choice of program. If the chosen program does not align with the students’ academic or employment background, the Canadian study visa may be rejected. International students can include a detailed personal statement along with the visa application if his/ her course of study does not match with previous education or work experience. Students can also attach a detailed education or work history along with the Canadian visa application if the opted course aligns with the previous educational/ work background.

Issues with the Letter of Acceptance (LOA)

An LOA from a Canadian DLI is one of the main requirements for applying for a Canadian student visa/ study permit. The visa officer may reject the application if there is an issue with the applicants’ letter of acceptance. The Canadian visa application may also be rejected if the applicant fails to meet the minimum entry requirements for the specific institution.

International students should ensure that the LOA is received from a registered Designated Learning Institute in Canada. The students should also make sure that all the required documents are attached to the visa application that serves as proof for meeting all the minimum requirements. Additional supporting documents can also be provided.

English Language Proficiency

International students from non-native English speaking countries are required to submit proof of English language proficiency. Test scores such as TOEFL/ IELTS should be submitted when applying through SDS/ SPP program. The applicant should also meet the minimum score requirements of the DLI ELP failing which the Canadian student visa may be rejected.

Issues With Travel/ Identity Documents

Illegible or incomplete identity documents are one of the most common Canada student visa rejection reasons. If there are too many blank spaces in the travel history without proper proof to cover those periods, the Canadian study permit may be rejected. International applicants should make sure that the travel history is justified with sufficient evidence and documents. These identity documents should be completed and also be clear and easily readable to ensure that their visa application is not rejected.

The Intent of Returning to Home Country after Completion of Studies

A Canadian study permit is a temporary visa with a limited validity period. International students are expected to return to their home country after the successful completion of their studies in Canada. For the Canadian visa application to be approved, it is required that the international student submit enough proof of intent to return to the home country and not stay in Canada after the study permit expires.

The applicant may however extend their study visa or obtain a PR to continue living in Canada. A detailed personal statement explaining the intent of returning to the home country can be submitted by the applicant along with the visa application. Students should also understand dual intent before submitting a personal statement. The dual intent concept is when the applicant initially wants to temporarily visit Canada (on a study/ work visa) and later intends to become a permanent resident of the country.

Insufficient Job Prospects in the Home Country

Insufficient job prospects related to the opted course in the home country may give an indication of the intent to return to the home country. The Canadian visa officer may reject the application if he/ she feels that the applicant does not have a job offer or lacks job prospects in the home country. This increases the chances of the applicants’ intention to settle in Canada. International applicants are required to submit sufficient documents and statements indicating that there are enough job opportunities and employment aspects in their home country after completion of the studies in Canada.

Academic Performance

Inconsistent academic performance in the previous years of study may lead to rejection of the Canada study visa. International students with good academic grades and English language ability are preferred for admission to Canadian universities. Uneven grades and low scores lead to questions about the students’ ability to cope with English-taught courses.

Additional Reasons for Refusal that Apply to all Visitors to Canada

Apart from the above-mentioned reasons, the following are some of the other reasons for Canada student visa rejection:

• Criminality: Having been convicted of a crime in the past
• Misrepresentation: Having misrepresented information to Canadian immigration previously and receiving a ban
• Previous Deportation: Staying in the country illegally for an extended period of time
• ​Medical Inadmissibility: Having a contagious disease that poses a threat to public health and safety
• Human Rights Violations: If you previously served in the military of a country that is suspected of war crimes, your visa will be denied. You will need to submit additional documents in this case.

Student Visa Rejection due to Covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the suspension of direct flights to Canada. After the flights to Canada resumed, there was a huge backlog of students awaiting visa approval as 3-4 lakhs of study visa applications from India are still pending, and it is tough for Canada to accommodate such high numbers of students in a matter of a few months. Therefore, the visas of such applicants whose cases were not very strong from their course’s point of view or based on their financial conditions were rejected.

It is a case of officials having to do a year’s work in a couple of months. Therefore, they are rejecting visas with weaker cases at the first stage so that they can take out some time to adjust themselves and then accommodate this enormous backlog of 6-7 months. In addition, students whose visas are rejected will have adequate time to improve their applications.

Tips to Reduce the Chances of Canada Student Visa Rejection

After learning about some of the most common Canada student visa rejection reasons, international students should keep in mind a few valuable tips to avoid the refusal of a Canadian student visa. Listed below are some important tips to be followed by applicants to avoid Canada student visa rejection:

• The applicant should have a checklist of mandatory documents required while applying for a Canadian student visa. The official website of the Government of Canada can be referred for the same
• The Canada visa application form should be filled carefully by making sure that no column is left blank
• The Statement of Intent is one of the most important documents to be submitted along with the Canada visa application. The applicant should write down all the academic achievements and the intent to study in Canada as this will introduce the applicant to the visa officer
• The students should also upload a copy of the offer letter received from the DLI in Canada
• Candidates applying under SPP is advised to show proof of finances and also obtain a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) by transferring $10,200 to Scotia Bank or ICICI Bank
• The applicants with adequate work experience should include salary slips or bank statements along with the application form to prove the availability of sufficient funds
• All travel histories and visa rejections with reasons should be clearly mentioned in the visa application file
• The students should answer all the questions asked on the CIC website while applying online

What to do if Canada Student Visa/ Permit is Rejected?

There are multiple reasons for a Canadian student visa to be rejected. International applicants should submit their documents, IELTS/ TOEFL scores, and also make sure to meet all other requirements. A Canadian visa officer may reject the application if he/ she finds discrepancies in the student visa application. Applicants may appeal against the refusal if their study permit for Canada is rejected. The three ways to appeal against a Canadian visa refusal are:

• Request for re-evaluation
• An appeal against the decision in federal court
• Submit a new application

All applicants applying for the Canadian student visa for the first time are advised to take help from a well-experienced visa counselor. Professional visa consultants help students to create a strong profile and also help in editing the statement of intent.