Please forward this to ONE Canadian immigrant today and tell them to subscribe here.

TL;DR

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has tightened financial reviews for study permit applications, directing officers to examine the source of applicants' funds and whether they will remain available.

The officer instructions updated on July 24 make clear that officers must assess the source of the money in every case. Officers may also review supplementary personal, family, financial, and employment records when deciding whether an applicant can support themselves throughout their program.

The guidance now lists bank statements covering the previous six months, including the month before or the month when the application was submitted. The earlier version listed four months.

Applicants still need to demonstrate sufficient funds for first-year tuition, living costs, accompanying family members, and transportation. The July update changes the review of that evidence. The required amount remains the same.

For one applicant studying outside Quebec through the standard study permit stream, the current living-expense requirement is CAN$22,895. That amount does not include tuition or travel costs, and different figures apply in Quebec and for applicants bringing family members.

IRCC's instructions do not require an applicant to hold the entire tuition cost of a multi-year program. An official example involving a four-year Ontario degree with annual tuition of CAN$15,000 requires proof of CAN$15,000 for the first year's tuition. The officer must also be satisfied that funding for later years is reasonably likely to continue.

Evidence of future funding could include a parent's continuing employment or a scholarship covering more than one year. The revised guidance also identifies pension income and rental-property income as possible evidence. It removes a convertible bank draft from its examples, although other documents may still be considered depending on the facts of each application.

Federal Court decisions have established that officers can look beyond the final balance in a bank account. In Sayyar v. Canada, the court said a financial assessment can consider the source, nature, and stability of the money.

In Oboghor v. Canada, the court upheld a refusal where the applicant had not adequately documented the source of funds, and a bank draft did not establish that the money would remain available. Other decisions have found that officers acted unreasonably when they relied on speculation or failed to address evidence showing a sponsor's financial stability.

The revised instructions apply to both study permit extensions and initial applications. For an extension, officers assess the money required for the first year after the extension begins.

A large deposit shortly before applying may attract questions if the documents do not show its origin. Applicants relying on a parent or another sponsor should connect the money to that person's income and ability to continue providing support.

Before submitting, consider preparing:

IRCC can request further evidence after receiving an application. Clear records submitted at the start may help an officer trace the money and assess whether it will remain available.