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International Student Advising and Programs / Connect with us / Preparing for your Appointment

PREPARING FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

IN-PERSON APPOINTMENTS: PLEASE READ

You must meet the following requirements to attend an in-person appointment:

  1. Masks are no longer required in indoor public spaces across the province and are a matter of personal choice, unless further public health orders are made. SFU encourages mask use on our campuses, particularly in spaces where people are in proximity, such as in-person appointments.
  2. A daily self-assessment is required before attending campus using BC’s online COVID Self-Assessment Tool or downloadable phone app.  If you are sick, please stay home and cancel your appointment, or change it to a virtual (Zoom) appointment in our booking system. You can connect with an Advisor remotely via LiveChat, virtual appointments, virtual drop-in, phone, or email. You won’t be penalized for not coming to your in-person appointment, but we do ask that you notify us by cancelling or changing it using our online scheduling system.
  3. Follow updated guidance and FAQ provided by SFU on the Return to Campus website 

Information last updated March 23, 2022

What can an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist help with?

As International Student Advisors, Immigration Specialists, we are experienced and trained in supporting your transition to SFU.

  • As Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants, we are qualified to provide advice on your study permit, employment options, student work permits, visas, and other topics related to Canadian immigration regulations.
    • We’re also happy to answer questions related to your family members' immigration documents (e.g. spousal open work permit, study permits for children, entry visas etc.)
    • If you are seeking advice on Permanent Residence (PR), please send your questions via email to intl_advising@sfu.ca
  • We can advise you on your medical insurance and how to navigate the Canadian healthcare system.
  • You may also come see us with questions about navigating a new language, culture or education system – if we don’t have the answers, we will point you in the right direction.

Click here for more information about the ISAP team.

How can you prepare for your appointment with an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist?

To make the most of your appointment and ensure you receive the most accurate, comprehensive advice possible, we recommend that you:

Know which immigration documents (e.g. study permit, visa, electronic travel authorization, work permit, etc.) you hold, as well as their issue and expiry dates

  • bring copies to your appointment if possible, in case you need to refer to them during our conversation
  • if applicable, bring copies of any correspondence you have had with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Make a list of your questions to ensure you can cover everything

  • review our online resources before coming in so that we can focus on your specific questions rather than providing a general overview

Plan ahead as much as possible

  • depending on the circumstances, you may have a few different processes to follow so it's helpful to plan your timeline in advance, especially if you have upcoming travel plans

 What can you expect from your appointment?

We believe in empowering you with the information and tools to make important decisions related to your academic, personal and professional goals. Here are some of the things you can expect from us:

Clear, comprehensive and current advice relating to your Canadian immigration status and documents

  • Please see About Us for a list of topics we can help with
  • Our scope of practice extends to Canadian immigration regulations only. If you need advice about documents for another country, please contact that country's embassy or consulate

A range of options depending on your circumstances and goals

  • We may not have a perfect answer for you, but we aim to give you enough information and guidance to consider all the possibilities within the current policies set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as well as SFU policies, and choose a course of action based on your own priorities

Advice on completing your application and a review of your documents before submission

  • We can provide tips and feedback regarding your application for a study permit, work permit, or visa; suggest additional supporting documents or explanations as needed; and review your application to ensure it is complete before you submit it
  • If you would like someone to prepare and submit the application on your behalf, or if you have questions about the forms or documents required for a permanent residence application, consider hiring a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or lawyer

Help with looking up and interpreting application processing times

  • IRCC processing times are not guaranteed and often fluctuate. We have no influence over the processing times

Guidance on how to communicate with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and advocate for yourself 

  • Although we do not have special privileges when dealing with IRCC and cannot typically contact them on your behalf, we can advise you on approaches to communicating with IRCC diirectly

 

How to cancel or reschedule an appointment

Undergraduate students: Log in to Advisor Link to cancel, change, or reschedule an appointment.

Graduate students: Log in to WCONLINE to cancel, change, or reschedule an appointment.

You can only cancel or reschedule an appointment 15 minutes or more in advance. If there were extenuating reasons why you were not able to cancel your appointment at least 15 minutes in advance, please contact us by email at intl_advising@sfu.ca.