Canada S-1 and SW-1 Visa for Oversea Students

The distinction between the S- 1 and SW- 1 visa is not much as many applicants think. If you apply for a study permit in Canada, you will receive either the S- 1 or SW- 1 visa.

You should not worry about the type of visa you get because you must get a co-op and upgrade your visa without paying extra money.

If you have a compulsory co-op on your visa, you will be issued the SW- 1 visa, but if you have an optional internship, you will get an S- 1 visa.

But don’t be in haste to change because there is no need for that. So, what do you do in such a situation?

All you have to do is apply for a co-op work permit, allowing you to work in Canada without any work permit.

What does a Student Visa Mean?

A student visa or study permit is the type of visa you need if you wish to go to Canada and study.

If you wish to study in Canada, then you must apply for a study permit that allows you to stay and study in Canada for the duration of your study.

When you apply for a study permit or student visa, two types of visas can be issued to you.

If you have compulsory co-op in your visa, you will get SW- 1 visa, but if you have an optional internship, you will get an S- 1 visa. The difference between the S-1 And SW-1 visas is not much.

Types Of Student Visa

When you apply for a study permit in Canada, you can get two types of visas as a student, they include:

• S- 1 visa and
• SW- 1 visa

SW- 1 visa: 

S- 1 visa is for students who have compulsory co-op in their visa. So, if you have compulsory co-op on your visa, you will get an SW- 1 visa.

This means you don’t have to apply for a co-op work permit to start working in Canada as a student.

The SW- 1 visa allows you to work while you study in Canada. So, you should have the SW- 1 visa and start working in Canada as a student once you arrive.

S- 1 visa:

If you have an optional internship on your visa, you will be issued the S- 1 visa, which does not give you an immediate permit to start working in Canada as a student.

To start working in Canada as a student with S- 1 visa, you will have to apply for a co-op work permit to start working in Canada.

The good news is that you don’t have to pay extra money to get the co-op work permit.

Therefore, don’t worry about the type of visa you are issued as a student because the difference between the S- 1 and SW- 1 visa is not much.

Distinction Between S-1 And SW-1 Visa

The difference between the S- 1 visa and the SW-1 visa is not much, even though many applicants think otherwise.

The significant difference between the two types of student visas is that while the SW-1 visa gives you a work permit to start working in Canada as a student once you arrive in Canada, the S- 1 visa does not offer you such a work permit.

The SW- 1 visa is issued to students with required co-op work permits on their visa, so they already have the work permit and are authorized to start working in Canada.

On the other hand, the S- 1 visa is issued to students who have an optional internship on their visa. So the question now is, what do you do?

All you have to do is apply for a co-op work permit, allowing you to work in Canada as a student. You can get this co-op work permit without paying extra money.

Remember that the type of visa you get does not matter because the difference between the S- 1 and SW- visa is slight. You can upgrade your S- 1 visa without paying.

How To Apply For Canada Student Visa

If you want to apply for a Canadian student visa or study permit, you must do two things first:

First, get a letter of acceptance from a designated institution(DLI).

Get a valid passport or travel document.

After you have gotten these two requirements, you can apply in two ways. First, you can either apply online or by visiting a visa application center in your county.

In addition to that, make sure that as soon as you get your letter of acceptance from a designated institution which can be a Canadian college or university.

Your study permit may take up to 3 months to be ready, depending on your country of residence.

Tips About Your Study Permit

You must know the following as an international student with a study permit

• you must continually be enrolled at a designated learning institution
• make progress toward finishing your study program
• respect the conditions listed on your study permit
• stop studying if you no longer meet the requirements
• leave Canada when your permit expires unless you extend it.

Canada Student Visa Extension

If you wish to stay longer than the date stipulated in your study visa, you must apply for a study permit extension.

The reasons for a visa extension may vary, but the process of extending is the same.

The reason for the Canada visa extension may be that:

• you may take longer than expected in a program or
• that you transferred to a more extended program.

The reason for the extension does not matter; what matters is that you apply for an extension before your visa expires.

• You must apply for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to extend your student visa.
• You must submit your application electronically unless otherwise stated.
• You must submit it before the expiry date of the current study permit.
• Once you have applied to the expiry date, you will be authorized to stay in Canada.

What if you fail to apply before the current student visa expires? Then, you can apply for a restoration status up to 90 days following the expiration date.

Canada Student Visa Requirements

The basic documents you will need to be eligible for a Canada student visa, whether it is S- 1 or SW- 1 visa, include

• an acceptance letter from a designated learning institution ( DLI)
• a valid passport or travel document
• proof of funds that you can support yourself and your family members coming to Canada with you.

Apart from the basic requirements, there are others that you may be asked to provide by an officer. Some of them include

• medical report
• police clearance
• proof of identity
• a custodian report

Canada Student Visa Processing Time

The processing time for your student visa depends on your country of residence. Some countries can take up to 3 months to process.

Note

There is no cost in applying for a co-op work permit, so do not worry if you have been issued an S-1 visa or SW-1 visa, as if you have the S-1 visa, you can easily apply for co-op. No charges are attached.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Study Permit

#1 How long can you stay in Canada with a study permit? 

You can stay in Canada with your study permit for as long as the duration of your program.

You also have extra 90 days to stay in Canada from the expiration date on your student visa unless you have applied for an extension before that day.

If your school demands that you take a course before they accept you, your study permit will be valid for the period of those courses with an additional one year.

You must apply to extend your stay as a student when you are accepted.

Furthermore, if you cannot finish your course before the stated on your student visa, you must also apply for an extension of your study permit.

And if you finish your studies before the expiry date, your study permit will become invalid after 90 days of your studies’ completion.

#2 Can you go back home while studying?

Yes, you can go home while studying in Canada, but when coming back, you must show evidence that you are enrolled in your school in Canada.

You must return when it is still valid if you have either a visitor visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA).

#3 How can a Pakistani student get a study visa in Canada?

Ans. As a Pakistani student who wants to study in Canada, you must do the following things to get your student visa.

First of all, you have to apply online or visit a visa center in Pakistan. If you applied on paper, you must visit a visa application center in Pakistan to submit your documents.

As a Pakistani student, you won’t have to prove your proficiency in English, and you don’t have to set up a restricted bank account, but you must submit your medical report.

Conclusion

There is no much difference between the S-1 and SW-2 Visa to study in Canada. However, knowing the difference will help you in avoiding certain mistakes.