A member's study permit was approved for a January 2023 intake, but the college's seats filled up and deferred their spot to September 2023, and they weren't sure what would happen to the already-approved permit.
What the thread laid out as the process:- If your visa remains valid for at least 6 months by the new intake date (September 2023), you can travel to Canada on your existing visa and apply for a study permit extension after arriving, rather than needing an entirely new visa application.
- Get an updated LOA from the college reflecting the new September 2023 date, and raise a webform to inform IRCC of the change. Members were reassuring that you can then travel using your same original visa once this update is on record.
- Once you've landed in Canada, apply for the study permit extension using your enrolment letter as supporting documentation — this is treated as a normal, expected step given the deferral situation, not something to be anxious about.
The practical takeaway: a college-driven deferral after your study permit is already approved doesn't require starting the whole visa process over — if your visa stays valid for at least 6 months past the new intake date, get an updated LOA, raise a webform, travel on your existing visa, and apply for a study permit extension once you land in Canada.