ISS is available virtually and in-person Mondays-Fridays during business hours.
Our phonelines will be open from 10:00am-1:00pm on Friday, April 25th, 2025.
I've been granted an extension to my exchange - What do I do now?
In order to resume your studies in the next term, you must have a valid CAQ and study permit or have applied study permit from inside Canada before your current study permit expires (to benefit from maintained status).
If you wish to extend your exchange (e.g. from a one-term exchange to a two-term exchange), it is important that you:
- discuss this with McGill and your home university; and
- receive the necessary approvals as soon as possible so that you have enough time to apply for an extension of your CAQ and Study Permit or apply for and obtain your CAQ and Study Permit for the first time
If you already have a CAQ & Study Permit
You must:
- Apply for a new CAQ, and then
- Apply to extend your Study Permit by or before its expiration date
If you apply to extend your Study Permit before it expires, you will benefit from maintained status until a decision is made on your application as long as you remain in Canada. This means that you may continue to work and study as per the conditions of your previous permit while you wait for a decision on your application. Read more about maintained status.
If you do not have a CAQ & Study Permit
You must:
- Apply for a CAQ, and then
- Apply to extend your stay in Canada as a student before the expiration of your authorized stay (generally 6 months from the date you entered Canada if your passport was not stamped or before the date that was handwritten on the stamp in your passport when you arrived).
If you apply to extend your stay in Canada before the expiration of your authorized stay, you may remain in Canada. However, you are not authorized to study or work while your study permit application is pending. You may only continue your studies in your 2nd term once your study permit application is approved. Please speak to an ISS immigration Advisor if you have any questions about that.
Renewing your TRV (Temporary Resident Visa)
Once you have obtained your Study Permit, you can apply online, from within Canada, for a new TRV.
Read more about how to renew your TRV.