Immigration Corner | Can I apply for my child to attend high school in Canada?

Dear Miss Powell,

My daughter is 16 years old and just graduated from high school, but she does not want to go to sixth form. She is currently on vacation in Canada with my mother, who is a Canadian citizen. After a long discussion with my daughter and mother, we think it would be better for her to stay with my mother to keep her company and get the necessary credits to go to college or university. We are just not sure how to apply for her to stay there and attend high school.

I know you write about attending college and university, but what about attending high school? Can I apply for her to attend high school if I don’t live there? What do I need to submit? Will the permit be valid until she finishes high school? I look forward to your urgent response. Thanks in advance.

KL

Dear KL,

Since your daughter is a minor, the application for study permit is slightly different from that of an adult. Additionally, your daughter is currently in Canada, and so she will need to submit a Canada application known as the application to change conditions to remain in Canada as a student.

Your daughter must have a valid status in Canada at the time of application, and must not have stayed longer than the time granted to remain in Canada. When your daughter arrived in Canada, an officer may have stamped in her passport the length of time that she is authorised to remain in Canada. If there is no stamp, handwritten date, or document in her passport, then her temporary resident status or visitor visa will expire six months from the day that she arrived in Canada. If that time has passed, I strongly recommend that you contact a Canadian immigration lawyer to assist you with an application for restoration and with her application for study permit.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

The first step is to ensure that you have her school transcript; and if she has already completed the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination, or GCE O’level studies, then those certificates will be required, along with proof of immunisation or vaccinations. If she will be attending a Catholic high school and she was baptised in the Catholic Church in her home country, then you should provide a copy of that baptismal certificate as well.

Second, since your child is a minor, Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be looking for proof that she has a legal guardian or custodian who is a responsible adult, to take care of and support her as a minor child. This person must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You, as the parent and the custodian, will be required to complete the Custodian Declaration form and submit it with the application and the supporting documents.

DURATION OF PERMIT

The study permit for a student who will be enrolled in secondary school is usually based on the length of time it takes to complete high school. This is from grade nine-12 in most provinces, up to a maximum of four years or up to the date of expiry of your passport, whichever is first.

This means that before applying for a study permit, your mother will need to obtain an acceptance letter from the secondary/high school that she will be attending. The letter will state the grade that she qualifies to enter and will indicate if a co-op (work experience) placement will be required.

As the parent, you will need to also provide your letter of authorisation, passport, proof of employment and your financial information to demonstrate that you are able to afford your child remaining in Canada without the need to apply for government assistance. If your mother will be financially responsible for her, then your mother must provide proof of her finances, such as bank statements, letter of employment or proof of other sources of income.

If your daughter completed her CSEC, she may be qualified to attend college instead of high school, depending on her career goals. You should consider discussing this with the school. If you need further assistance, you should contact a Canadian immigration lawyer to represent you. Before engaging the lawyer, you should check the provincial or territorial law society to verify that the person is authorised to provide you with legal services. IRCC will only accept applications from authorised representatives.

Deidre S. Powell is a lawyer, mediator, and notary public in Canada. Send your questions and comments via Facebook, Instagram or call or WhatsApp 613.695.8777. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram or Twitter for updates about Canadian immigration policies.