Citizens of Saudi Arabia who are applying for a study permit or renewal of a study permit may require additional evidence of funds, the Government of Canada has announced.
In an update published October 18, the Canadian Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) stated that visa officers should request additional evidence of funds from applicants with a grant from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who are not medical students, graduates of Canadian universities or students scholarships in the last year of their undergraduate programs.
Officials must give 30 days for applicants to submit proof of cash before they decide on a new application for a study permit or an extension of a study permit in Canada.
IRCC says that if additional evidence of funds is not provided, and the visa officer is not sure that the applicant will be able to pay tuition, financially support himself and accompanying family members during his stay in Canada, the visa officer must refuse the application.
Medical students, graduates of Canadian universities or students for scholarships in the last year of their undergraduate programs are exempt from the requirement to provide additional evidence of funds. For these applicants and their dependents, IRCC will only require financial sponsorship certificates from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia for the Cultural Bureau as valid proof of funds.
During the summer, Canada’s criticism of human rights in Saudi Arabia forced the Kingdom to abandon funding for its scholarship programs in Canada from August 31, 2018. All students from Saudi Arabia must transfer their scholarship to other countries where they can complete their study programs.
