Breaking News: Expedited Processing for SDS Study Permits Ended Effective November 8, 2024

Effective November 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. EST, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program program, which was available to applicants from countries including India, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, Morocco, Senegal, Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago, has officially ended, leading to changes in the processing of study permit applications. As per new instructions, officers will no longer offer expedited processing for study permit applications received under the SDS after this cutoff time.

Any individual submitting a complete SDS application after this time will have their application processed under the regular Study Permit Stream, which follows the standard processing times and requirements.

All complete SDS applications received before November 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. EST will still be processed as per the expedited provisions laid out under subsection 87.3(3.1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Officers are reminded that eligible study permit applications received before this deadline may still benefit from expedited processing under SDS criteria.

For further details or assistance with study permit applications under the new regulations, contact StepUp Immigration for guidance.

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