International Student and Immigration Advising

York International Advising


Beginning January 22, 2024, most international students will require an attestation letter from the province or territory in which they plan to study with every new study permit application. York University will provide important information and updates as they become available. Students can also visit the FAQs for more information and ongoing updates. Current international students in Canada will not need an attestation letter for study permit renewals.

Virtual Drop-in Group Advising with Zoom

Virtual drop-in advising is the fastest way to speak with our immigration specialists who can help answer your quick questions regarding study permits, work permits, visas, SIN etc.

How does virtual drop-in advising work?

No appointment is needed. Virtual drop-in advising is conducted as a group advising session where each student will have an opportunity to ask their question. It is first-come, first-served, so you may need to wait in line.
If your question requires additional time or privacy, the advisor(s) may ask to speak with you 1:1 at the end of the session or they will set up a separate appointment with you.

What can I do to prepare for virtual drop-in advising?

Please have your student number and study permit document with you for reference.
Review York International’s Immigration Application Resource Page.

Virtual drop-in advising schedule

Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 am – 11:00 am EST*

*Virtual drop-in advising hours are subject to changes or until further notice.

Visit the York International Events Calendar to access the zoom link during virtual drop-in advising hours.

Booked Appointments via Qless

1:1 Booked Appointments via Qless

Booked appointments may be available under certain special circumstances, such as:

  • Refused study or work permit application.
  • Complex study or work permit application due to critical incidents, academic suspension, financial blocks, leave of absence, etc.
  • Urgent and time sensitive study or work permit application (i.e. already expired permit or permit that will expire within one week).
  • Students who have been denied entry or required to leave Canada

Each booked appointment will be 15 minutes in duration. If additional time is required to discuss your questions, an advisor will schedule a follow-up appointment with you as needed. If your situation does not fall within one of the above categories, we encourage you to first attend virtual drop-in advising. It is the fastest way to connect with us. If an appointment is necessary, we can refer you through drop-in.

HOW TO BOOK 1:1 APPOINTMENT VIA QLESS

  1. Join the Virtual Kiosk OR download the app on your smartphone from Google Play or the iTunes App Store.
  2. Open the app and select “York International”.
  3. Select the “Immigration Advising – Appointments” queue.
  4. Follow the prompts and provide your name, phone number, student ID, study permit expiry date.
  5. In the notes section, please provide the following information:
    1. Whether you are currently inside or outside of Canada
    2. The expiry date of your current study permit, the visa sticker in your passport (if applicable) and the expiry date of your passport
    3. Why you cannot attend drop-in advising
    4. Please explain what your issue/questions are about in as much detail as possible
  6. Upon receiving your booking request, an advisor will review your notes and decide whether your situation meets the booking criteria. An advisor may accept your appointment, or contact you for more information, or cancel your appointment and invite you to virtual drop-in advising instead.

QLESS HOURS OF OPERATION

Monday & Wednesday: 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EST (June & July 2023)

**Please note that QLESS hours are sometimes subject to change. Please always check the York International Events Calendar for the most up-to-date availability.

LOCATION

The York International office is located on the Keele Campus inside York Lanes Mall on the second floor, room 200. If you are currently outside of Canada, please indicate your location in the notes section and an advisor will contact you to make alternative arrangements for your appointment.

Email Advising

For immigration related questions, we suggest attending virtual drop-in advising as that is the fastest way to reach an advisor. To reach an advisor by email, please email iadvisor@yorku.ca. 

For non-immigration matters, please contact our office by emailing intlstudentquestions@yorku.ca. These concerns might involve:

  • Inquiries about emergency bursary applications;
  • Inquiries about upcoming or past events and/or programming (i.e. International Student Orientation, cultural events, off-campus events, etc.);
  • Inquiries about volunteering or working at York International;
  • Other general questions.

UHIP

Do you have a question about your University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP)? Please review information and options to contact our UHIP administrator.