A member's study permit was refused under paragraph R216(1)(b) — the officer wasn't convinced they would leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay — and they asked what recourse or reapplication strategy to pursue.
What the thread suggested:- Make sure your chosen course logically fits your education and work experience. A program that doesn't connect to your background can itself feed doubts about your genuine study intent, contributing to this type of refusal.
- The Statement of Purpose (SOP) was described as the most important factor in getting approved — one member shared that a strong SOP led to approval for their daughter's SDS application (with two parents as secondary applicants) within just one week, suggesting a well-written SOP can carry significant weight even in cases involving extra scrutiny.
The practical takeaway: if you're refused under R216(1)(b), focus your reapplication on two things — choosing (or better explaining) a course that clearly builds on your existing education/work background, and investing heavily in a strong, credible SOP that addresses the officer's doubts about your intent to return home.