PHILIPSBURG:--- An informative workshop entitled “Applying for a U.S. Student Visa or Canadian Study Permit” will be held on May 25, 2021, by the Student Support Services Division (SSSD) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Affairs.
This free workshop will be held online from 5:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. and is geared towards students who are looking to apply or who have applied to schools in the U.S.A. or Canada and their parents.
In this workshop, information will be given on the application process for obtaining a U.S. Student Visa or Canadian Study Permit. Students who have already been accepted to a school in either of these countries can attend the workshop to receive a step-by-step approach on how to complete the application process. The process can seem overwhelming and confusing, however, SSSD will help students to better understand the process.
Students or parents can register in advance by calling SSSD at 543-1235 and registrants will then receive an invitation by email. On the day of the event, participants can click the link on SSSD’s Facebook page and join the online workshop.
Students who do not possess a U.S. passport, U.S. Permanent Residence (Green Card), Canadian passport, or Canadian permanent residence are considered international students in the U.S. and Canada respectively. According to SSSD officials, “Applying for a student visa ties into immigration matters, therefore, it is essential that students are aware of the procedure and take care in preparing their application.” They also stress that improper preparation or incomplete applications can delay the process at the embassy.
“We have seen students having to wait a whole year before attending college or university because they encountered bottlenecks with for example their Canadian study permit. The global pandemic has also caused a shift in how certain things are done. So, knowing certain aspects beforehand can help students with their application process, “ SSSD officials said.
Students are also urged to contact the career guidance counselor, Mr. Chance, at 543-1235 for more information. Students are also encouraged to log into the workshop on time.
The SSSD office is located in the Gatsby Building across from the Police Station and next to the WIB. SSSD provides many services to students. Some services include psychological services, counseling services, speech-language pathology services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, career services, and parental workshops.