International Students

Complete the " Study Permit & Co-op/Internship Work Permit" Module

If you have questions about life as an international student, International Student Advising is here to help. International Student Advisors are Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) or Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) who can support you in your experience as a UBC international student. Top reasons to connect:

• Get help with your visa, study permit, and work permit application
• Ask about part-time or full-time work requirements
• Learn about your health insurance coverage
• Talk to someone about transitioning to life in Canada

RHL offers a dedicated immigration consultant to help with the details of your application. You will receive regular updates from him directly through e-mail. If you have questions about your specific situation, please see his contact information below.

David Sage, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant Email: intlubc@students.ubc.ca

In your initial email, please make sure to include the following:

• Your name
• Your citizenship(s)
• All permit and visa expiration dates (if applicable)
• Currently in Canada (YES or NO)
• Any applicable documents
• Your program

Besides your Study Permit, pay specific attention to the following time-sensitive tasks before you move to Vancouver: Besides your Study Permit, pay specific attention to the following time-sensitive tasks before you move to Vancouver:

• Prepare your travel Make sure you have all documents needed to enter the country

• Family support Apply for childcare and find support if you plan to move with your children

• On-campus housing If you want to live on campus, you need to apply as soon as you have been admitted.

Upon arrival, pay specific attention to the following time-sensitive tasks:

• Health insurance

Apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in Canada Please particularly note:

• • You must apply for the BC Medical Systems Plan (MSP) as soon as you arrive in Vancouver, as there is a 3 month waiting period for BC MSP to take effect. The MSP premiums are not included in your tuition and fees.
  • Until you are covered by MSP, you are automatically enrolled in UBC's iMED plan. iMED is a temporary basic health insurance plan required for new international students, and will provide you with health insurance coverage during the three-month waiting period for BC's Medical Services Plan (MSP)
  • All students (both international and domestic) are also automatically enrolled in and pay for the AMS/GSS extended medical plan through their student fees.
• Phone plan Get organized on communication in Vancouver
• Working and banking in Canada Request a SIN number and open a Canadian bank account
• Off-campus housing Housing in Vancouver is very competitive– if you want to live off-campus, it can be difficult to arrange this unless you’re here in person, and stressful to do once the program has started – so plan to arrive early.