I Nternati Onal Students Pre-Departure Guide 2021 -2022 Frequently Called Numbers
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I NTERNATI ONAL STUDENTS PRE-DEPARTURE GUIDE 2021 -2022 FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY EMERGENCIES 911 Police, Fire, Ambulance Main number: 514-848-2424 Extensions Birks Student Service Centre 2668 Centre for Continuing Education 3600 Concordia Health Services 3565 / 3575 CSU Off-Campus Housing and Job Bank 7935 (HOJO) Financial Aid and Awards Office 3507 Graduate Awards Office 3835/3816 International Students Office 3515 Office of the Registrar (Admissions) 2668 School of Graduate Studies 3800 Security 3717 Student Accounts Office 4900 IMMIGRATION Immigration Quebec 514-864-9191 Citizenship and Immigration Canada 1-888-242-2100 TELECOMMUNICATIONS Operator and long-distance assistance 0 Directory (phone number) assistance 411 MAPS Concordia University campus maps concordia.ca/maps Metro map (with all subway stations) stm.info/en/info/networks/maps RECOMMENDED APPS Concordia Medavie Blue STM(Société App Cross Mobile de transport de Montréal) 2 2020-2021 ISO - PRE-DEPARTURE GUIDE CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY T17-38602 CONTENTS BEFORE YOU LEAVE STEP 1 What documents will you need? 6 STEP 2 Apply for CAQ, Study Permit, TRV, and eTA 8 STEP 3 Organize your finances 12 STEP 4 Prepare for travel and arrange temporary accommodation 13 STEP 5 Prepare for your academic term 16 ONCE YOU ARRIVE STEP 6 Clear customs and obtain your Study Permit 18 STEP 7 Get organized 21 STEP 8 Consider your housing options 22 STEP 9 Review your health insurance coverage 25 STEP 10 Pay your fees before the deadline and inquire 29 about part-time work STEP 11 Start your semester and make the most of campus life 31 English equivalents of French terms used in this guide are given below in italics Ministère de l’Immigration, Francisation et Intégration (MIFI) Quebec Ministry of Immigration Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur (MEES) Quebec Ministry of Higher Education Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) Quebec Acceptance Certificate Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) Quebec Health Insurance Board Carte d'assurance maladie Quebec health insurance card Société de transport de Montréal (STM) Montreal transit system NOTE: Every effort has been made to provide current and accurate information, however, regulations/policies may change at any time without notice. All prices/costs are subject to change. CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY ISO - PRE-D EPARTURE GUIDE 2020-2021 3 WELCOME TO THE I NTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFF ICE The ISO is your main resource centre for International Students Office (ISO) information, with a mission to help you Room GM 330, Guy-Maisonneuve make the most of your studies and Building 3rd Floor university life at Concordia. Concordia University, Sir George Williams Campus We are here to ease your transition to 1550 De Maisonneuve Blvd. West Concordia as an international student and Montreal, Quebec Canada H3G 1M8 to help ensure you have a successful academic and personal experience within a Office Hours: welcoming environment. Many Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. international students call the ISO their “home away from home” and we hope you Telephone: 514-848-2424, ext. 3515 will feel the same way. Fax: 514-848-3599 Email: [email protected] Please use this guide to familiarize yourself Web: concordia.ca/iso with the ISO and its services. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions Join our Facebook group to connect with or concerns before you leave for Canada. the ISO community and other Once you arrive we encourage you to international students. make the ISO your very first stop on campus. facebook.com/ISO.Concordia 4 2020-2021 ISO - PRE-DEPARTURE GUIDE CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFFICE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OFF ICE ISO Workshops & Information ISO Social Events Sessions All international students are welcome to The International Students Office offers a join our extended list of social activies. wide variety of essential, informative and These include: useful information sessions and workshops for international students. • Cooking classes Some of them are designed for newly • Movie nights admitted students while others are • Summer city tours directed at current and graduating • Language exchange meet- students: ups • Health Insurance information session In addition to attending your classes, it is good • Working in Canada to take a break and attend a social event. Not • Post-graduation Work Permit only is it a welcome break from all that hard Session studying, but you can meet new friends from • Quebec Immigration all over the world, discover Montreal and • and more... enrich your university experience. concordia.ca/students/international/ concordia.ca/students/international/sessions- sessions-workshops workshops/social CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY ISO - PRE-D EPARTURE GUIDE 2020-2 021 5 STEP BEFORE YOU LEAVE 1 WHAT DOCUMENTS WILL YOU NEED? Get prepared! 2. Valid Passport Under Canadian and Quebec immigration All students need a valid passport. Your laws, all international students in a passport must be valid for at least six program of study more than six months months or more. Always keep a copy of need a: your passport identification page and any • CAQ (Quebec Acceptance Certificate) other important documents to facilitate issued by Immigration Quebec replacement if they are lost or stolen. • Study Permit issued by IRCC (Immigration Refugee 3. Proof of Financial Capacity Citizenship Canada) You must demonstrate your ability to support yourself, and if applicable, your You will require some or all of the accompanying dependents.u Yo must following documents before travelling to show the financial capacity to cover Canada: tuition fees and living expenses for at least one year. Financial capacity: 1. Offer of Admission canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees- You must have an official Offer of citizenship/services/study-canada/study- Admission from Concordia University permit/get-documents.html before applying for immigration documents. The Offer of Admission is 4. CAQ (electronic version) sent by email in PDF format. To study in Quebec for more than six months, you must obtain a CAQ Once you receive the PDF format of your (Quebec Acceptance Certificate) from Offer of Admission (even if it is a Quebec's Ministry of Immigration. Do Conditional Offer), apply for your CAQ not wait for the CAQ to be sent to you, and Study Permit. use the CAQ Approval Letter from your Immigration Quebec portal page to apply Note: Always keep your Offer of for a Study Permit. Admission in a safe place. You must travel CAQ (Quebec Acceptance Certificate): with this document to Canada. When you immigration- arrive in Canada, a customs officer may quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/ ask to see it as proof that you will be students/obtaining-authorizations/ studying at Concordia - include all pages index.html of your offer of Admission when applying for your CAQ and Study Permit. 5. Letter of Introduction To study in Canada for more than six months you need to apply for a Study Permit. You will need a Letter of Introduction from IRCC (Immigration Refugee Citizenship Canada) entitling you 6 2020-2021 ISO - PRE-DEPARTURE GUIDE CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY to a Study Permit upon entry to Canada. The 6. Temporary Resident Visa Letter of Introduction is not your Study Citizens of certain countries require a Permit. Keep this letter and other support Temporary Resident Visa (TRV or Entry documents. You will need to show this letter Visa) to enter Canada. Check with the to officials at the port of entry when you Canadian authorities in your country to arrive in Canada then a Study Permit will be find out the requirements. Visit the issued. Citizenship and Immigration Canada Study Permit: canada.ca/en/immigration- website for more details: http:// refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/ www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/ study-permit/apply.html applications/visa.asp SERVICE CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE PLEASE APPLY ONLINE. 7. Electronic Travel Authorization Note: If you are a U.S. citizen/permanent (eTA) resident, a resident of Greenland or St. Visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or Pierre and Miquelon, you can apply for your transit through Canada will need an Study Permit at a Canadian Port of Entry, Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). consequently, a Letter of Introduction is not Exceptions include United States citizens required. Since you are applying for a Study and foreign nationals with a valid Permit upon entry, bring all supporting Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). canada.ca/ documents with you and be prepared to pay en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/ a processing fee. Port of Entry: cic.gc.ca/ services/visit-canada/eta.html english/resources/tools/temp/students/ application.asp 8. Biometrics Supporting Documents: Some foreign nationals will also need to canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/ provide biometrics in order when applying services/study-canada/study-permit/prepare/ for their immigration documents. get-documents.html For more information, please visit Exchange / Visiting Students cic.gc.ca/english/visit/biometrics.asp studying for six months or less: You don't need a CAQ or Study Permit if the duration of your program of studies is EXEMPTIONS – CAQ – STUDY PERMIT six months or less and will be completed You might not need a CAQ and a Study within the period of your authorized stay Permit. For the full list of exemptions, in Canada. Despite this exception you see Immigration Quebec: may apply for a CAQ and a Study Permit immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate- before entering Canada. It may be settle/students/obtaining-authorizations/ advantageous to obtain a CAQ and Study requirements/list-exemptions.html Permit, should you plan to participate in and Immigration Refugee Citizenship work programs available to international Canada: students or intend to apply for another cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/ program of study. cic.gc.ca/english/ students/who.asp resources/tools/temp/students/who.asp CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY ISO - PRE-DEPARTURE GUIDE 2020-2021 7 STEP B EF O RREE Y OOUU L EA V E 2 APPLY FOR CAQ, STUDY PERMIT, TRV, OR ETA Apply for your documents as soon as you Do not give a Montreal address if you are receive the PDF Offer of Admission sent still living abroad.