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Study permit approved in one month from the Gulf: a Pakistani applicant's timeline from Saudi Arabia

Canada • Study Permit • study 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Timeline

Applied
2021-05-15
Documents Submitted
2021-05-19
Decision
2021-06-03
Total Duration
~1 month (submission to passport request); stamped passport 13 June

Documents Needed

  • Biometrics (VFS Global)

    Submitted without biometrics first (15 May), biometrics letter next day, given 19 May.

  • Admission / offer letter

    Master's admission; the applicant noted the offer itself had taken ~3-4 months earlier (deferred admission).

Step-by-Step

A Pakistani national applying from Saudi Arabia shared a fast, positive study-permit outcome — useful because Gulf-based foreign nationals often hear their odds are poor.

Timeline (Master's, first attempt):
  1. Submitted to IRCC without biometrics — 15 May 2021.

  2. Biometrics letter — 16 May; biometrics given at VFS Global — 19 May.

  3. Passport request — 03 June; stamped passport delivered — 13 June.


Takeaways from the discussion:
  • Applying as a foreign national from a Gulf country is not an automatic rejection — this case was approved within a month.

  • The applicant applied under non-SDS.

  • Secure your admission/offer letter early, as it can itself take months.

  • The applicant applied only for themselves (no spouse included).

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Tip: Being a foreign national in a Gulf country doesn't doom a study permit — approvals do happen, and fast.
  • Do: Start the admission/offer-letter process early; it can take 3-4 months on its own.
  • Tip: You can submit first and complete biometrics right after — it doesn't have to hold up the file.

Have a question about this? Join the discussion.

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