Getting Started

Each student should do their homework before coming to Canada. Read through different school sites. Make sure the schools are registered with either a Provincial Government Agency ( eg: PCTIA in British Columbia) or a Canadian Agency (CAPLS). This will ensure that your money deposited with your chosen school is protected by laws and, if you change your mind and withdraw from the school or do not receive your visa, you will get most of your money back. CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) also looks more favorably upon registered Canadian Schools when issuing study permits and Temporary Visitor Visas.

Check to see the school has a program you wish to take. You will have to pass your TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) before gaining admittance to an academic program. In Canada students are required to take the computer based test. A minimum score of 213 is needed to attend at a college level...higher marks are required for universities.
ESL programs vary from school to school. Make sure the instructors are qualified to teach in their province. Make sure they have ESL training. Ask to see credentials.

Make sure the school has a local license to conduct business and interview the school owner by email. Make sure they carefully answer all your questions in advance.

You have chosen your school - what should you do now?

1. Make an application to the school. You will find the forms to fill out and Email under a section called Admissions or Registrations.

2. When you receive a reply, you will have to pay your tuition fees and registration fees in advance.

3. The school will then send you an admission letter stating you have been accepted as a student and your fees have been paid in full.

4. You can begin the visa process, by making application to your nearest Canadian Consulate or Embassy. Here is the link - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/permit-who.html . This process can take 3-6 months. You may need a Temporary Residents Visa as well. Please check out this site and see if your home country is on the list - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.html . If you need a Temporary Resident visa You can go to this site - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/visa.html .

Now that you have completed all the parts of the process, you will have to decide if you wish to live with and eat all your meals with a Canadian family (homestay), or get a suite in someone's house where you can cook for yourself (peerstay). Schools will ask you to fill out a form and pay a fee for placing you in a home. Some schools will help you to find an apartment as a third alternative for living in Canada.

You have made all the major decisions.....Now book your flight!
Congratulations on your decision to come to Canada! I hope to meet you here! Our school is The Mains Way to Learn English. You can find us at www.themainsway.com . You can email me at info@themainsway.com .