An international student says she ran out of money and spent months in distress after coming to Canada because an immigration official didn’t give her the right document to allow her to work part-time while studying in northern Ontario. Shreya Rajput arrived from India on December 17 to study information technology at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Mary. It wasn’t until last Friday that Shreya Rajput learned that she can finally get a social security number, something she couldn’t apply for until she had the right study document. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told CBC News, “The department deeply regrets this error.” But that’s small compensation for Rajput, who said the mistake has deeply affected her mental health.
The student relies on savings to make ends meet
Rajput’s problems began after she arrived at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. An immigration officer printed a study permit without the condition that she be allowed to work 20 hours a week, a document that is standard for international students. She only discovered the error when she went to Service Canada this January to apply for a social security number and was told she didn’t qualify because her study permit didn’t include the requirement. Relying on some savings, she began her studies and began researching how to fix the bug. I broke down emotionally because I completely ran out of money.- Shreya Rajput, international student Rajput followed the instructions she found on IRCC’s website to fix the problem and sent them a photocopy of her study permit. More than two months later, she was notified that she would not make a duplicate copy and had to send the original copy of her study permit. Rajput sent the original document and said she received a response in June that IRCC’s operations support center was not processing requests like hers. “That’s the exact moment I had a mental breakdown. I broke down emotionally because I ran out of money completely,” Rajput said. He also said that the anxiety got so bad that he even had suicidal thoughts. She connected with a childhood friend who lived in North Bay, 435 kilometers east of Sault Ste. Marie, and asked to move in with him. She then did much of her schooling remotely unless she needed to be in Sault Ste. Maria on campus. “Now she takes care of my expenses. And sometimes my parents send me some things and some money,” said Rajput, who still lives in North Bay and plans to resume classes in January 2023. In the meantime, she is not working and relies for help from family and friends. While studying at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Rajput says she had to stay with a childhood friend in North Bay, 435 kilometers away, because she could not afford to pay rent. (Algoma University) In an email to CBC News, IRCC spokeswoman Isabelle Dubois said Rajput’s study permit problem was the result of human error. The paperwork she was originally given was missing a line that allowed her to work on or off campus. Dubois also confirmed that Rajput’s application for a social security number was approved on August 26, 2022. “The study permit will be mailed to her,” Dubois wrote in the email. “People who are eligible to work on or off campus will have these remarks printed on their study permit, which then allows them to apply for a social security number.” Dubois added that immigration officials received an application from Rajput to amend her study permit, but it was “deemed incomplete and returned.”
Councilor urges schools to help students
Don Curry, president of Curry Immigration Consulting in North Bay, said IRCC is “not really interested in helping people.” “Even for someone like me, trying to get help from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is painful to say the least. You know, you send in a request, you get a paper template that doesn’t answer the question you asked.” Curry said it’s up to colleges and universities, which rely on international students and higher tuition, to have staff available to help them with study permits and other immigration issues. If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where you can get help: This guide from the Addiction and Mental Health Center describes how to talk about suicide with someone you are worried about.
title: “International Student Says She Spent Months In Mental Anguish After Canadian Immigration Mistake Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-11” author: “Waneta Berube”
An international student says she ran out of money and spent months in distress after coming to Canada because an immigration official didn’t give her the right document to allow her to work part-time while studying in northern Ontario. Shreya Rajput arrived from India on December 17 to study information technology at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Mary. It wasn’t until last Friday that Shreya Rajput learned that she can finally get a social security number, something she couldn’t apply for until she had the right study document. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told CBC News, “The department deeply regrets this error.” But that’s small compensation for Rajput, who said the mistake has deeply affected her mental health.
The student relies on savings to make ends meet
Rajput’s problems began after she arrived at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. An immigration officer printed a study permit without the condition that she be allowed to work 20 hours a week, a document that is standard for international students. She only discovered the error when she went to Service Canada this January to apply for a social security number and was told she didn’t qualify because her study permit didn’t include the requirement. Relying on some savings, she began her studies and began researching how to fix the bug. I broke down emotionally because I completely ran out of money.- Shreya Rajput, international student Rajput followed the instructions she found on IRCC’s website to fix the problem and sent them a photocopy of her study permit. More than two months later, she was notified that she would not make a duplicate copy and had to send the original copy of her study permit. Rajput sent the original document and said she received a response in June that IRCC’s operations support center was not processing requests like hers. “That’s the exact moment I had a mental breakdown. I broke down emotionally because I ran out of money completely,” Rajput said. He also said that the anxiety got so bad that he even had suicidal thoughts. She connected with a childhood friend who lived in North Bay, 435 kilometers east of Sault Ste. Marie, and asked to move in with him. She then did much of her schooling remotely unless she needed to be in Sault Ste. Maria on campus. “Now she takes care of my expenses. And sometimes my parents send me some things and some money,” said Rajput, who still lives in North Bay and plans to resume classes in January 2023. In the meantime, she is not working and relies for help from family and friends. While studying at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Rajput says she had to stay with a childhood friend in North Bay, 435 kilometers away, because she could not afford to pay rent. (Algoma University) In an email to CBC News, IRCC spokeswoman Isabelle Dubois said Rajput’s study permit problem was the result of human error. The paperwork she was originally given was missing a line that allowed her to work on or off campus. Dubois also confirmed that Rajput’s application for a social security number was approved on August 26, 2022. “The study permit will be mailed to her,” Dubois wrote in the email. “People who are eligible to work on or off campus will have these remarks printed on their study permit, which then allows them to apply for a social security number.” Dubois added that immigration officials received an application from Rajput to amend her study permit, but it was “deemed incomplete and returned.”
Councilor urges schools to help students
Don Curry, president of Curry Immigration Consulting in North Bay, said IRCC is “not really interested in helping people.” “Even for someone like me, trying to get help from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is painful to say the least. You know, you send in a request, you get a paper template that doesn’t answer the question you asked.” Curry said it’s up to colleges and universities, which rely on international students and higher tuition, to have staff available to help them with study permits and other immigration issues. If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where you can get help: This guide from the Addiction and Mental Health Center describes how to talk about suicide with someone you are worried about.
title: “International Student Says She Spent Months In Mental Anguish After Canadian Immigration Mistake Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-29” author: “Rosa Williams”
An international student says she ran out of money and spent months in distress after coming to Canada because an immigration official didn’t give her the right document to allow her to work part-time while studying in northern Ontario. Shreya Rajput arrived from India on December 17 to study information technology at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Mary. It wasn’t until last Friday that Shreya Rajput learned that she can finally get a social security number, something she couldn’t apply for until she had the right study document. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told CBC News, “The department deeply regrets this error.” But that’s small compensation for Rajput, who said the mistake has deeply affected her mental health.
The student relies on savings to make ends meet
Rajput’s problems began after she arrived at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. An immigration officer printed a study permit without the condition that she be allowed to work 20 hours a week, a document that is standard for international students. She only discovered the error when she went to Service Canada this January to apply for a social security number and was told she didn’t qualify because her study permit didn’t include the requirement. Relying on some savings, she began her studies and began researching how to fix the bug. I broke down emotionally because I completely ran out of money.- Shreya Rajput, international student Rajput followed the instructions she found on IRCC’s website to fix the problem and sent them a photocopy of her study permit. More than two months later, she was notified that she would not make a duplicate copy and had to send the original copy of her study permit. Rajput sent the original document and said she received a response in June that IRCC’s operations support center was not processing requests like hers. “That’s the exact moment I had a mental breakdown. I broke down emotionally because I ran out of money completely,” Rajput said. He also said that the anxiety got so bad that he even had suicidal thoughts. She connected with a childhood friend who lived in North Bay, 435 kilometers east of Sault Ste. Marie, and asked to move in with him. She then did much of her schooling remotely unless she needed to be in Sault Ste. Maria on campus. “Now she takes care of my expenses. And sometimes my parents send me some things and some money,” said Rajput, who still lives in North Bay and plans to resume classes in January 2023. In the meantime, she is not working and relies for help from family and friends. While studying at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Rajput says she had to stay with a childhood friend in North Bay, 435 kilometers away, because she could not afford to pay rent. (Algoma University) In an email to CBC News, IRCC spokeswoman Isabelle Dubois said Rajput’s study permit problem was the result of human error. The paperwork she was originally given was missing a line that allowed her to work on or off campus. Dubois also confirmed that Rajput’s application for a social security number was approved on August 26, 2022. “The study permit will be mailed to her,” Dubois wrote in the email. “People who are eligible to work on or off campus will have these remarks printed on their study permit, which then allows them to apply for a social security number.” Dubois added that immigration officials received an application from Rajput to amend her study permit, but it was “deemed incomplete and returned.”
Councilor urges schools to help students
Don Curry, president of Curry Immigration Consulting in North Bay, said IRCC is “not really interested in helping people.” “Even for someone like me, trying to get help from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is painful to say the least. You know, you send in a request, you get a paper template that doesn’t answer the question you asked.” Curry said it’s up to colleges and universities, which rely on international students and higher tuition, to have staff available to help them with study permits and other immigration issues. If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where you can get help: This guide from the Addiction and Mental Health Center describes how to talk about suicide with someone you are worried about.
title: “International Student Says She Spent Months In Mental Anguish After Canadian Immigration Mistake Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-21” author: “Nina Longway”
An international student says she ran out of money and spent months in distress after coming to Canada because an immigration official didn’t give her the right document to allow her to work part-time while studying in northern Ontario. Shreya Rajput arrived from India on December 17 to study information technology at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Mary. It wasn’t until last Friday that Shreya Rajput learned that she can finally get a social security number, something she couldn’t apply for until she had the right study document. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told CBC News, “The department deeply regrets this error.” But that’s small compensation for Rajput, who said the mistake has deeply affected her mental health.
The student relies on savings to make ends meet
Rajput’s problems began after she arrived at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. An immigration officer printed a study permit without the condition that she be allowed to work 20 hours a week, a document that is standard for international students. She only discovered the error when she went to Service Canada this January to apply for a social security number and was told she didn’t qualify because her study permit didn’t include the requirement. Relying on some savings, she began her studies and began researching how to fix the bug. I broke down emotionally because I completely ran out of money.- Shreya Rajput, international student Rajput followed the instructions she found on IRCC’s website to fix the problem and sent them a photocopy of her study permit. More than two months later, she was notified that she would not make a duplicate copy and had to send the original copy of her study permit. Rajput sent the original document and said she received a response in June that IRCC’s operations support center was not processing requests like hers. “That’s the exact moment I had a mental breakdown. I broke down emotionally because I ran out of money completely,” Rajput said. He also said that the anxiety got so bad that he even had suicidal thoughts. She connected with a childhood friend who lived in North Bay, 435 kilometers east of Sault Ste. Marie, and asked to move in with him. She then did much of her schooling remotely unless she needed to be in Sault Ste. Maria on campus. “Now she takes care of my expenses. And sometimes my parents send me some things and some money,” said Rajput, who still lives in North Bay and plans to resume classes in January 2023. In the meantime, she is not working and relies for help from family and friends. While studying at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Rajput says she had to stay with a childhood friend in North Bay, 435 kilometers away, because she could not afford to pay rent. (Algoma University) In an email to CBC News, IRCC spokeswoman Isabelle Dubois said Rajput’s study permit problem was the result of human error. The paperwork she was originally given was missing a line that allowed her to work on or off campus. Dubois also confirmed that Rajput’s application for a social security number was approved on August 26, 2022. “The study permit will be mailed to her,” Dubois wrote in the email. “People who are eligible to work on or off campus will have these remarks printed on their study permit, which then allows them to apply for a social security number.” Dubois added that immigration officials received an application from Rajput to amend her study permit, but it was “deemed incomplete and returned.”
Councilor urges schools to help students
Don Curry, president of Curry Immigration Consulting in North Bay, said IRCC is “not really interested in helping people.” “Even for someone like me, trying to get help from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is painful to say the least. You know, you send in a request, you get a paper template that doesn’t answer the question you asked.” Curry said it’s up to colleges and universities, which rely on international students and higher tuition, to have staff available to help them with study permits and other immigration issues. If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where you can get help: This guide from the Addiction and Mental Health Center describes how to talk about suicide with someone you are worried about.
title: “International Student Says She Spent Months In Mental Anguish After Canadian Immigration Mistake Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-15” author: “Russell Niemczyk”
An international student says she ran out of money and spent months in distress after coming to Canada because an immigration official didn’t give her the right document to allow her to work part-time while studying in northern Ontario. Shreya Rajput arrived from India on December 17 to study information technology at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Mary. It wasn’t until last Friday that Shreya Rajput learned that she can finally get a social security number, something she couldn’t apply for until she had the right study document. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told CBC News, “The department deeply regrets this error.” But that’s small compensation for Rajput, who said the mistake has deeply affected her mental health.
The student relies on savings to make ends meet
Rajput’s problems began after she arrived at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. An immigration officer printed a study permit without the condition that she be allowed to work 20 hours a week, a document that is standard for international students. She only discovered the error when she went to Service Canada this January to apply for a social security number and was told she didn’t qualify because her study permit didn’t include the requirement. Relying on some savings, she began her studies and began researching how to fix the bug. I broke down emotionally because I completely ran out of money.- Shreya Rajput, international student Rajput followed the instructions she found on IRCC’s website to fix the problem and sent them a photocopy of her study permit. More than two months later, she was notified that she would not make a duplicate copy and had to send the original copy of her study permit. Rajput sent the original document and said she received a response in June that IRCC’s operations support center was not processing requests like hers. “That’s the exact moment I had a mental breakdown. I broke down emotionally because I ran out of money completely,” Rajput said. He also said that the anxiety got so bad that he even had suicidal thoughts. She connected with a childhood friend who lived in North Bay, 435 kilometers east of Sault Ste. Marie, and asked to move in with him. She then did much of her schooling remotely unless she needed to be in Sault Ste. Maria on campus. “Now she takes care of my expenses. And sometimes my parents send me some things and some money,” said Rajput, who still lives in North Bay and plans to resume classes in January 2023. In the meantime, she is not working and relies for help from family and friends. While studying at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Rajput says she had to stay with a childhood friend in North Bay, 435 kilometers away, because she could not afford to pay rent. (Algoma University) In an email to CBC News, IRCC spokeswoman Isabelle Dubois said Rajput’s study permit problem was the result of human error. The paperwork she was originally given was missing a line that allowed her to work on or off campus. Dubois also confirmed that Rajput’s application for a social security number was approved on August 26, 2022. “The study permit will be mailed to her,” Dubois wrote in the email. “People who are eligible to work on or off campus will have these remarks printed on their study permit, which then allows them to apply for a social security number.” Dubois added that immigration officials received an application from Rajput to amend her study permit, but it was “deemed incomplete and returned.”
Councilor urges schools to help students
Don Curry, president of Curry Immigration Consulting in North Bay, said IRCC is “not really interested in helping people.” “Even for someone like me, trying to get help from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is painful to say the least. You know, you send in a request, you get a paper template that doesn’t answer the question you asked.” Curry said it’s up to colleges and universities, which rely on international students and higher tuition, to have staff available to help them with study permits and other immigration issues. If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where you can get help: This guide from the Addiction and Mental Health Center describes how to talk about suicide with someone you are worried about.
