Can You Obtain a Study Visa for Canada After a Long Break from School?

Students Choose and Research Schools Before Deciding to Study Abroad in CANADA at Education Fairs

I graduated from high school five years ago and now I want to go to Canada for self-financed study at a college in design. I have heard that with such a long break from school, my chances of getting a visa are very low. Is this true?

If I study English for less than six months, what are my chances? After finishing my English course, can I apply for college? What is the likelihood of success? I have relatives in Canada, so I feel safer and more convenient choosing it as my study destination. (Quynh Diep, vietphuc1982@...)

• Answer from Ms. Trần Thị Ngọc Trâm, Representative of the Canadian Education Centre (CEC) Vietnam:

If you graduated from high school five years ago and now plan to study in Canada, you need to prove to the school and the Canadian consulate what you have been studying or working in the past few years. You can refer to your current job and also provide your high school academic records. The Canadian school will give you the final answer based on these factors.

If you have already received an acceptance letter from a Canadian school, the Canadian consulate will not question it. What matters is whether the program you choose, your study duration, and your study plan in Canada are clear.

In the case of studying an English course for less than six months, generally, this does not constitute a long-term study plan. You must apply for courses lasting over a year in order to be eligible for a Canadian study visa.

You should not wait until you finish your English course to apply for college. It is better to apply for both the English course and the main program simultaneously by submitting your academic records for the past three years for the school’s consideration.

With this approach, the consulate will see that your study plan is reasonable. Having relatives in Canada is a convenience for your integration into the new country, but it will not affect the outcome of your visa application.

(Source: TTO)