On January 22, 2024, the Government of Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced temporary changes to the international student policies.
Following the announcement, we have paused the receipt of applications and the processing of Letters of Acceptance (LOA). The Government of Ontario has not yet communicated with us how and when the attestation letters will be available, however, we will provide further information as soon as it becomes available.
For details on the announcement made by Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, please follow the link to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) news release Canada to stabilize growth and decrease number of new international student permits issued to approximately 360,000 for 2024
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please review each of the FAQ sections for further information for international students currently studying at, accepted to study at, or wishing to study at Sault College as well as information about spouses and children coming to Canada with you. These answers will generally apply to international students studying at Ontario Colleges. Answers may vary for students enrolled at universities or in other provinces. For further information, please contact your agent.
Prospective Students
If you are interested in applying to Sault College or have applied and are awaiting acceptance, we ask you to speak with your agent or a find an agent based on your location. We are working closely with our agent partners and will continue to communicate with them as more information becomes available. Please review our FAQs below for further information.
Click here to view our list of International Agents
Current Students
This information applies to students currently studying at one of our Sault College campuses.
- I need to extend my study permit to complete my studies here in Canada. Will the new cap on study permits impact me?
No. Study permit extensions/renewals will not be impacted by the cap on study permits which is being implemented.
- I am a current student at Sault College. Will I be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)?
Current students should not be impacted by the January 22 announcement about PGWP .Students beginning studies in September 2024 at our Toronto and Brampton campuses in partnership with triOS College will not be eligible for a PGWP.
- I hold an offer for a second program at Sault College. Will I still be able to study? Will I be eligible for PGWP?
Students currently in Canada on a study permit who need to extend their permits to continue studying will not be impacted. You can continue to study and remain eligible for a PGWP per the standard eligibility and conditions.
Students Holding LOAs for Future Intakes
These questions apply to students who hold an LOA to study at Sault College in an upcoming intake. Please review closely, as information will vary depending on your intake date and the campus location where you will study.
Main Campus
May and September 2024
- I hold an LOA for 24S. Will I be impacted?
The announcement will not impact the PGWP eligibility for our students starting programs in May 2024. It does not matter which campus, your PGWP eligibility will not be affected.
If you have not yet applied for your visa, there will be some delay while we wait for details about the newly required Attestation Letters. If your visa is delayed, we will work with your agent to find the best option for you.
- I hold an LOA for 24F. Will I be impacted?
Students who hold an LOA for our main campus in Sault Ste. Marie will not have any impact to their PGWP eligibility. There may be some delay in visa processing, but we are hopeful that the Attestation Letter process and study permit allocation details will be announced soon. We will be prioritizing students who hold LOAs and are very hopeful that there will be no change to your plans to study with us in September.
Toronto and Brampton Campus
May 2024
- I hold an LOA for 24S. Will I be impacted? What if I need to defer my intake?
The announcement will not impact the PGWP eligibility for our students starting programs in May 2024. It does not matter which campus, your PGWP eligibility will not be affected.
If you have not yet applied for your visa, there will be some delay while we wait for details about the newly required Attestation Letters. If your visa is delayed we will work with your agent to find the best option for you.
- Can I transfer to the main campus?
We are actively working to find options for all students who hold offers for Toronto and Brampton campuses. We will work closely with your agent to provide the best possible option for you. Unfortunately, we cannot specify when these options will be made available. We kindly ask that you allow us a few weeks to gain more clarity on the situation about Attestation Letters and study permit allocations for our institution.
Toronto and Brampton Campus
September 2024
- I have an offer for Toronto or Brampton Campus in September 2024. Will I still be eligible for a PGWP?
This announcement does change the PGWP eligibility of students beginning studies at our Toronto and Brampton campuses in September 2024 onward. Please know we are actively looking for options for you and will communicate these details with your agent as soon as details are available. We kindly ask that you allow us a few weeks to gain more clarity on the situation about Attestation Letters and study permit allocations for our institution.
- Can I transfer to the main campus?
We are actively working to find options for all our students who hold offers for Toronto and Brampton campuses in September 2024. We will work closely with your agent to provide the best possible option for you. Unfortunately, we cannot specify when these options will be made available. We kindly ask that you allow us a few weeks to gain more clarity on the situation about Attestation Letters and study permit allocations for our institution.
- Can the college offer an earlier start date in August 2024 for the Toronto and Brampton campuses?
Sault College is not planning to change our semester start-dates. This announcement does change the PGWP eligibility of students beginning studies at our Toronto and Brampton campuses in September 2024 onward. Please know we are actively looking for options for you and will communicate these details with your agent as soon as details are available.
All Campuses and Intakes
- What will my refund be if I choose not to come?
Please know that our priority is to find the best possible option for you. We will be working actively with your agent to offer any options, which might include a refund if that is your preference. We will communicate details, including any possibility of a refund, through your agent once these details are confirmed. Please allow us a few weeks to gather details and consider the best option for your situation.
- When can I expect the attestation letter? How can I get an attestation letter?
The provincial government is actively working with the Colleges and Universities to develop this process. The deadline for provinces to create this process is March 31. We are hopeful that this process will be created and announced well before that deadline. Please allow a few weeks for these details to be available and shared by the Province of Ontario.
- What is the registration deadline/visa deadline for May intake?
The deadline listed on your LOA to submit proof of visa approval is April 15, 2024. Please know we understand that some students may face visa delays due to these changes announced by IRCC. We will actively work with your agent to find options for you if you are impacted by visa delays.
- I applied for my visa before this announcement. Will I be impacted?
If you submitted your visa application before January 22, 2024, your application should be processed normally, and you should not be impacted in your visa application process.
- Will the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) be extended?
We are very hopeful that RNIP may become a permanent immigration program. At this time, we have no updates and are not aware of any announcements about a change to the end date of RNIP. We will share any updates with your agent if IRCC makes any announcements about RNIP.
Spouses and Families
- Will my spouse still be able to join me while I study in Canada?
This announcement has indicated that beginning very soon, spouses of students studying in any college program in Canada will no longer be eligible for an Open Work Permit (OWP). It may not be possible for your spouse to work in Canada while you study.It may still be possible for your spouse to receive a visitor visa so that they can visit Canada while you study. The impact of this announcement means that they will not likely be able to work if they come to Canada.
- I was planning to apply for my spouse to join me in Canada. If I act quickly can I still submit an application for their OWP?
Possibly. The announcement indicates “in the weeks ahead, open work permits will only be available to the spouses of students in master’s and doctoral programs.” We are waiting for clarity on this timeline but expect that the window for OWPs will close quickly.
- I applied for my spouse’s OWP before this announcement. Will they be impacted?
If you have applied for your spouse to have a work permit and this application is still in process, it is possible that there may be an impact to their application. Unfortunately, we do not have details on when spousal OWPs will be impacted and on what date this takes effect.- My spouse’s OWP was approved before this announcement. Will they be impacted?
We are not aware of any reason why an OWP which is approved should be impacted. If your spouse holds an approval for an OWP, they should be able to join you and work while you study.
- My spouse is currently in Canada on an Open Work Permit (OWP). Will they be able to extend their status and continue working while I study?
The official announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on January 22 does not specify whether OWPs can be extended for spouses, but we have received information which indicates that the dependents of international students currently in Canada should not be impacted.
- Will my children still be able to come and live with me while I study in Canada?
We have no reason to believe that there has been any change to your children’s ability to come to Canada. Minors studying at the primary or secondary school level do not require an Attestation Letter to apply for a study permit.