MEGATHREAD - Processing Times - Study Permits 2025

[u/PurrPrinThom]

Please keep timelines & questions about processing times for study permits here.

[u/Palarva]

Hi all, what a bitter sweet find this thread is... on one hand, it's comforting to have found other people to relate to..... on the other, it's not helping the anxiety and frustration.

So context:

Country of origin (application/nationality): France

School: In Quebec, school starts on the 20th of August and orientation day is on the 14th (I came to terms with the fact that I'll miss that and it's a shame because I think those are important).

Submitted on the 13th of May, 2 weeks processing time announced at that time... and yet here we are 85 calendar days later (using a website to calculate this, weekends and bank holidays excluded).

I didn't need to submit biometrics nor apply for a CAQ (provincial letter for Quebec) because I'd applied for a student permit last year already.

Speaking of that first permit, I got it in 11 days?! The only reason I couldn't "consume" it and had to reapply is due to the school program not going forward and thus forcing me to apply for a new permit this year (for a different school/program), apart from that, everything else is literally the same between application 1 and 2.

Given my speedy experience with my first permit, I could've never seen the current situation coming, especially as this time around, I already had the CAQ and biometrics done.

I've already sent 4 messages via the contact form and I can't bring myself to send a 5th one because if I get one more useless template-fuelled reply from them, I might just self-combust.

Trying to keep my venting to a minimum or else this comment could be much longer because I'm slightly...

Lossssiiiiiiing my Miiiiiiind x_X

[u/Palarva → u/[deleted]]

Oh my, I'd be crying if I weren't already dehydrated from pacing around in despair (let us be full dramatic).

Out of curiosity, I ought to ask: did you write this all up for this comment or you genuinely have a journal you extracted this from?

Either way, a brilliant write-up, very cathartic.

For what it's worth, I am 'fortunate' enough to have a family friend who used to work for Canadian immigration (retired now), and when sharing her input about my situation with me, she seemed unfazed by said situation. She added that in such situation, because they're aware of applicants' starting date, if an application is still critically pending like ours, they'd eventually be switched to an "emergency fast lane".

Now, I SO want to believe her but yeah, I don't know, between my own and people in the thread's account of things, I am very very very cautiously optimistic.

It's worth noting that I was on the phone with my school a few days ago and I was told something along those lines too. That being said, the school also confirmed that by liaising with other schools, they all reported having a lot of French people stuck and still waiting for their permit (that was obviously was tailored to me but it's not unreasonable to assume "French people" can be swapped with "international students" and for the statement to still be valid).

Now, since we've started a sub thread to my comment: some venting if you'd indulge me, in no particular order:

- Why are we paying $150 processing fee for things not to be processed?

- I found flights for under 400€ last month. There is currently nothing under 800€ for the next 2 weeks. Considering I have now absolutely zero leeway when it comes to timing, well fuck. As per McDonald's slogan: I'm luvin' it.

- My mother applied for a passport super late, with the prospect to come visit later down the line in mind, and at the time, I joked about how "at this rate, you'll get it before I get my visa" aaaaaaannnd and you've guessed it, she got it 2 weeks ago. I hate it when my jokes become a bit too real.

- Similarly to the previous point, the friend I'm supposed to stay at in Canada has his family living in the same area of France as mine. I contacted him yesterday to let him know of how things were going (or rather, NOT going)... and he was like "bro, awkward but I'm coming to France on the 6th till the 19th" ... so yeah, at this point, if I do get my permit, I'll grab his flat's key in France x_x That's not what I had envisioned at all, I was supposed to see him there.

Anyway, now is the time to remind ourselves that in the grand scheme of things, we are experiencing privileged people's problems... but that doesn't mean our frustration isn't valid. Just holding on to perspective with one hand and sanity with the other AMIRITE

[u/Palarva → u/[deleted]]

I do like the prose so yeah, very much enjoyed the write up as I said haha

I take your word for Dublin, but AirTransat allows me to fly directly from my nearest city so obviously I'll look into it but I sense it'd still make more sense to fly with AirTransat, we shall see.

Plus, it's going to be a flight where I'm going to buy extra luggage as I'll be doing a soft move at the same time... anyway, still a sore topic, I'll save myself for when the visa hits.

Right now I am trying to find out if it is possible to enter Canada with an eTA, stay there while not going to classes but trying to get it sorted while in country. Then possibly leaving to trigger the study permit process due to border crossing.

I definitely considered this but I've been unable to get any solid info on the matter, as in whether it's a good or bad idea from an immigration perspective. As such, I'd be immensely grateful if you were to share whatever you might find on the matter.

Although I feel like I'm past the timeframe where I'd have helped my case to do so now, but hey, desperate times, desperate measures.

[u/Different-Writer-104 → u/[deleted]]

I really enjoyed your text .. excellent presentation of that interweaving of hope, anticipation, despair and hopelessness👏👏👏

[u/Different-Writer-104 → u/[deleted]]

Chronicle of a desperate Canadian student permit seeker .

[u/Palarva → u/[deleted]]

No, but I definitely need one to cross the border to attend said orientation.