While you search about study in Canada from India, terms like SDS Canada, Non-SDS Canada, and General Category confuse you? Are you not able to understand anything and feel lost?
Through this blog, we attempt to resolve your queries about the SDS and Non-SDS Visa Requirements in 2021.
The Student Direct Stream (SDS), formerly known as Students Partner Program (SPP), is an initiative by Canadian Immigration Authorities. Generally, if you are looking to study in Canada, you can apply for your visa application under SDS Category.
The SDS is an approach through which the student visa permit applications are quickly and directly processed. You can file your SDS application only through an online medium. In this situation, to fall under the category of SDS, the students must fulfill specific requirements set up by IRCC.
1. SDS Visa Requirements:
Language Proficiency Test:
- Under the SDS category, you need to qualify for an English Proficiency Test.
- The student can appear for IELTS Academic or IELTS General under the SDS Category.
- It is essential to realize that you need to acquire a minimum score of 6.0 bands in all sub-sections. The sub-sections of the paper include Reading, Speaking, Writing and Listening.
Passport:
To apply for a student visa in Canada, the student must have a valid passport. A student’s study permit, temporary resident visa (TRV), and any other document from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will not be issued past the expiry date of your passport. You must extend your passport before it expires, then extend your study permit and any other applicable Canadian permits or visas.
Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC):
The students must deposit an amount of $10000 (CAD) or more as a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC). The money deposited helps ensure that the student is secured in Canada and has additional sources to fund possible expenses. Basically, it is the amount which student will get once he/she will reach over there.
There are some banks which offer GIC
- NOVA SCOTIA
- ICICI
- CIBC
- SBI
The student will get $2,000 CAD plus any interest deposited into his student bank account when he arrives in Canada. further, he will receive approximately $667 CAD each month for the next 12 months.
Tuition Fee:
The students have to submit the full payment of the tuition fee for the first year of the program.
Letter of Acceptance:
You must have an acceptance letter from the Designated Learning Institute (DLI) where you have applied for your further education. The Canadian provincial and territorial government has authorized specific colleges and universities as DLI’s. The designated learning institutes are colleges/universities that have permission to cater to international students.
Educational Documents:
The students are required to submit all their previous academic certificates. These mainly include documents like 10th certificate, 12th certificate, diploma, and graduation (if any). The papers that you provide should be genuine and complete.
Medical Examination:
You are required to submit a document as proof of a thorough medical examination. Under the checkup, a full-body physical examination is performed.
Statement of Purpose:
Statement of purpose plays really a vital role in student visas. The student has to write Sop in both cases either it is SDS and NON-SDS. It seems to be like an essay where a student needs to mention why Canada, why he chose this college and opted for the particular course, In simple words it gives a brief idea to visa officer regarding student profile and his interest
However, SOP for the Canadian high commission is different from Sop written for Canadian Universities or colleges. SOP written for universities is more focusing on the particular course, your background history, and also portrays the uniqueness of the student to a major focus on.
Digital Pic:
Digital pictures of students are also another requirement. Specification of the picture is 35*45, 80% zoom white background.
Generally speaking, visa application processing to study in Canada under the SDS Canada takes approximately 4-6 weeks. However, the visa application may take longer than the usual time frame due to the current scenario.
Probably by now, you must be wondering what will come under the Non-SDS visa requirements?
2. Non-SDS Visa Requirements:
The Non-SDS, also known as the General Category, is another method to apply to study in Canada. Under the Non-SDS Canada, the students who are unable to meet the requirements of SDS can apply. The students applying for Non-SDS visa requirements have to check on the following criteria:
Language Proficiency Test:
- Most importantly, under the Non-SDS Canada, you need to clear a language proficiency test.
- You can appear for IELTS, PTE or TOEFL to illustrate your language proficiency.
- Keep in mind that your score must be overall 6 not less than 5.5 in one module of the paper.
Passport:
To apply student visa for Canada, the student must have a valid passport. A student’s study permit, temporary resident visa (TRV), and any other document from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will not be issued past the expiry date of your passport. You must extend your passport before it expires, then extend your study permit and any other applicable Canadian permits or visas.
Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC):
The students must deposit an amount of $10000 (CAD) or more as a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC). The money deposited helps ensure that the student is secured in Canada and has additional sources to fund possible expenses. Basically, it is the amount which student will get once he/she will reach over there.
There are some banks that offer GIC :
- NOVA SCOTIA
- ICICI
- CIBC
- SBI
The student will get $2,000 CAD plus any interest deposited into his student bank account when he arrives in Canada. further, he will receive approximately $667 CAD each month for the next 12 months.
IN NON-SDS, GIC IS NOT COMPULSORY STUDENTS CAN REPLACE GIC WITH PROOF OF LIQUID FUNDS.
Tuition Fee:
Many times, students struggle to deposit one full-year fee in one deposit. Under Non-SDS visa requirements, students can initially deposit six months’ tuition fees for the DLI. However, the students have to ensure that they portray their financial stability. The students can submit documents as proof of financial stability.
Medical Examination:
In addition, the students need to submit a document as evidence of an upfront medical examination.
Educational Documents:
While submitting your academic documents, it is essential to realize that you submit genuine documents. The documents include your previous education certificates like 10th certificate, 12th certificate, and diploma or graduation transcripts.
Digital Pic:
Digital pictures of students are also another requirement. Specification of the picture is 35*45, 80% zoom white background.
Statement of Purpose:
Statement of purpose plays really a vital role in student visas. The student has to write Sop in both cases either it is SDS and NON-SDS. It seems to be like an essay where a student needs to mention why Canada, why he chose this college and opted for the particular course. In simple words, it gives a brief idea to visa officer regarding student profile and his interest
WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT?
Generally, Visa officers can’t call every student for an interview. Therefore, evaluating the student profile helps them a lot. Most visa applications are accepted or rejected majority on the Statement of Purpose.
Financial Documents:
In Non-SDS, students need to submit financial documents which portray student financial stability such as Proof of Income (Income Tax Returns, Form-16, J-Forms). In addition to this students can add liquid assets also in the form of Bank statements, GPF, Fixed Deposits, etc which show the financial status of the family.
The processing time of the visa applications under the Non-SDS category takes longer than the SDS category.
Conclusion
CANADA STUDY VISA NEVER DEPENDS UPON IELTS ONLY, High Commission considers the overall profile of the student then only gives any decision. So, Once the student’s profile has been evaluated thoroughly, we provide counseling to them.
On the whole, we believe through this blog, you could get clarity about the SDS and Non-SDS visa application requirements. If you still have doubts about the requirements and want to get your study visa, contact SAGA Studies.
