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Study visa refused — can you claim your GIC after entering Canada on another visa? No

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

Documents Needed

  • Refusal letter

    Required to trigger the GIC refund process with the bank.

  • GIC refund form

    Bank-specific form; the refund is credited back to the originating home-country account.

  • Student ID (for release, not refund)

    Banks release GIC installments in Canada only to enrolled students who can show student credentials.

Step-by-Step

An applicant whose study visa was refused asked whether they could still claim their GIC money in Canada after arriving on a family visa. The group's answer was a clear no, with the mechanics:

  1. GIC funds are tied to student status. The bank releases GIC money in Canada only to actual students — it asks for a student ID before allowing withdrawals. Arriving on a family (or any non-student) visa doesn't unlock the funds.

  2. After a refusal, the route is a refund, not a withdrawal. Submit the refusal letter with the bank's refund form; the money is credited back to the originating home-country account, not paid out in Canada.

  3. The refund goes home even if you don't live there anymore. The applicant had applied from the Gulf but the GIC originated via an Indian account, and the bank required physical presence in India to complete the claim. If you fund a GIC from an account you can't easily access in person, plan for exactly this scenario — set up a mandate/power of attorney or confirm the bank's remote-claim process before funding.

  4. Context on the refusal itself: the stated grounds were study purpose and program choice — a reminder that GIC money proves funds, not intent; the SOP and program fit carry that weight.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Don't: Don't expect to withdraw GIC funds in Canada without student status — banks require student ID to release installments.
  • Do: After a refusal, file the bank's GIC refund form with your refusal letter; expect the money back in the source account.
  • Tip: If you fund a GIC from a country you may leave, confirm the bank's remote refund process (or set up a POA) before locking the money in.

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