Relevant current events

Your International Health Insurance has been Activated

The International Health Insurance (IHI) premium of $1,128 was billed to your student fee account along with your tuition. In order for the insurance provider (Medavie Blue Cross) to have your information on record and for you to be able to submit medical claims, we have now forwarded your information to the insurer, thus activating your single coverage until August 31, 2021. This will ensure that you have the security of an active IHI contract as soon as you arrive in Canada, namely upon landing or crossing a Canadian border.

Please note that while your IHI contract has been activated, you do not have coverage until you have entered Canada. Your coverage and benefits will only begin once you have arrived in Canada.

IHI ADJUSTMENT DUE TO COVID-19

If you have not yet arrived in Canada, exceptionally this year and as part of the COVID-19 adapted measures, international students may request an adjustment of the annual premium for the period they will not be in Canada. You may request this adjustment upon your arrival to Canada. Your annual premium will be then adjusted accordingly within 30 days of the request date, on a pro-rated monthly basis. You cannot request this adjustment if you have not arrived in Canada. Your adjustment will be processed for the months that precede the month of your date of arrival. Example: If you arrive in Canada on October 31st, you will get an adjustment for September only.

Simply complete this WEB FORM upon your arrival in Canada; either by landing or crossing a Canadian border.

If you do not enter Canada for the Fall 2020 term, you can fill out the form once you arrive in Canada for the Winter 2021 term. If travel restrictions are extended into the Winter 2021 term and students are unable to enter Canada, we will be in contact with our international students regarding how this will affect the International Health Insurance fee at that time.

INTEREST ON UNPAID IHI FEES

Exceptionally this year and as part of the COVID-19 adapted measures, interest on the unpaid default single coverage premium of the IHI fee ($1,128) will be automatically deferred until December 31st 2020. However, if you submit a request for an adjustment, the deferral will automatically end itself once the IHI premium is adjusted on your student fee account. You will be billed for the new adjusted amount for the IHI. From this point you will be responsible to pay for the new IHI fee by the due date indicated on the eBill or risk of incurring interest.

EXEMPTIONS

For students who are eligible for an exemption and have not yet sent their supporting documents, please note that exceptionally this year our office will be accepting exemption-supporting documents after the deadline since many students are experiencing delays.

Therefore, students who will obtain supporting documents for an exemption will have until December 31^st 2020, to send us their exemption documents without incurring interest.

If you have already obtained your exemption-supporting documents, please send them to our office, along with your McGill ID number, immediately for review. You may send your documents directly to international.health [at] mcgill.ca.

PRINT AND SAVE YOUR IHI CARD

You can now view, save and print your IHI card on Minerva. In order to make a claim, please sign up to the Medavie Blue Cross App or member portal. Please note that claims can only be made if you have already entered Canada or that were incurred within Canada.

To sign up for Maple Virtual Care, that allows you to connect with Canadian doctors for online medical care from your phone, tablet or computer, please see the following instructions.

COVID-19 UPDATES

Please refer to our International Student Health Insurance Plan FAQs for more details or for further updates during the fall 2020 term.

For more essential information, please visit the official McGill University COVID-19 website.

IHI DISCLAIMERS

Finally, it is very important that you review the following IHI disclaimers:

End of Coverage as a result of a student's registration change:

In order to be eligible to use the International Health Insurance contract and make claims, you must be a student registered (an actively/currently enrolled student) at McGill University and you must pay* for the coverage.

* Exceptionally this year and as part of the COVID-19 adapted measures, interest on the unpaid portion of the IHI fee will be automatically deferred until December 31st 2020.

Any changes that effect your registration status at McGill University, such as Admission Deferral, University Withdrawal, Registration Gap or Leave of Absence in any given term or any other kind of absence of registration, may result in the automatic cancellation of your McGill’s International Health Insurance plan.

It is your responsibility to notify ISS immediately of any changes in your registration status, in order to comprehend the impact this change might have on your eligibility to use the McGill’s International Health Insurance contract. It is your responsibility to reimburse any claims to Medavie Blue Cross made after the change to your registration status.

Maternity benefits disclaimer:

Maternity benefits extend to you and your spouse if you re-register and were already covered under the Insurance Plan for McGill University International Students or if you or your spouse were previously insured by a benefit from a group insurance plan offered by a recognized Canadian education during the previous academic year.

If you or your spouse were not insured during the previous academic year, maternity benefits are insured if normal delivery takes place during the first 30 weeks following initial registration in the plan up to a maximum of $10,000. The 30-week limitation does not apply in case of a miscarriage or early delivery, as long as conception occurred during the first 6 weeks immediately prior or subsequent to registration.

Dependent disclaimer:

Please note that:

• It is your responsibility to make necessary changes to your health coverage as dependents join you in Canada
• You have 30 days from the date of birth of your child to change the coverage according to your new situation

These disclaimers are also available on the ISS website.

For any questions about the above disclaimers or if you need to make changes to your single IHI contract, please do not hesitate to contact us at international.health [at] mcgill.ca

Important News Release, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announces changes to facilitate online learning for international students

IRCC has announced additional measures to support international students beginning a new program online this fall with a Canadian learning institution. These new measures include the following:

• providing priority study-permit processing for students who have submitted a complete application online, to ensure that permits are processed as quickly as possible
• allowing students to count the time spent pursuing their studies online abroad toward their eligibility for a post-graduation work permit, if they have submitted a study permit application and if at least 50% of their program is completed in Canada
• providing reassurances to international students who cannot submit all of the documentation needed to complete processing of their applications, and who choose to pursue programs through distance learning, by implementing a temporary 2-stage approval process

For full details, see IRCC’s news release.

Important Update: new measures on post-graduation work permit eligibility for students beginning programs online

IRCC has introduced new measures that facilitate students’ eligibility for the post-graduation work permit and who begin their programs online due to COVID-19.

These new measures include the following:

• Students may now study online from abroad until April 30, 2021, with no time deducted from the length of a future post-graduation work permit, provided 50% of their program of study is eventually completed in Canada.
• Students who have enrolled in a program that is between 8 and 12 months in length, with a start date from May to September 2020, will be able to complete their entire program online from abroad and still be eligible for a post-graduation work permit.
• Students who have enrolled in a program with a start date from May to September 2020 and study online up to April 30, 2021, and who graduate from more than one eligible program of study, may be able to combine the length of their programs of study when they apply for a post-graduation work permit in the future, as long as 50% of their total studies are completed in Canada.

For full details, see IRCC’s news release.

Important News Release, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announces changes to facilitate online learning for international students

IRCC has announced additional measures to support international students beginning a new program online this fall with a Canadian learning institution. These new measures include the following:

• providing priority study-permit processing for students who have submitted a complete application online, to ensure that permits are processed as quickly as possible
• allowing students to count the time spent pursuing their studies online abroad toward their eligibility for a post-graduation work permit, if they have submitted a study permit application and if at least 50% of their program is completed in Canada
• providing reassurances to international students who cannot submit all of the documentation needed to complete processing of their applications, and who choose to pursue programs through distance learning, by implementing a temporary 2-stage approval process

For full details, see IRCC’s news release.

Important Update: Biometrics exemption for temporary residence applicants in Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that temporary resident applicants applying from within Canada for their temporary immigration documents (e.g. study permit, work permit, visitor via/TRV) are temporarily exempt from providing their biometrics. For complete details, please see IRCC’s website.

This temporary measure does not apply to applicants applying from outside of Canada.

Important update: electronic submission of CAQ supporting documents.

As per the announcement made by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), students will now be able to submit their CAQ supporting documents electronically by using MIFI’s online system, Arrima.

All students must first complete an online CAQ application. After you submit the online application and pay the processing fee, you will receive a CAQ document checklist. The checklist will provide instructions on how to submit your supporting documents to MIFI electronically using the Arrima online system. You still have the option to submit your CAQ supporting documents to MIFI by mail if you prefer.

Only the following students should use the online system, Arrima, to submit their CAQ supporting documents:

• Students who have not yet applied for their CAQ;
• Students who have applied online for their CAQ, but who have not yet mailed their documents; OR
• Students who have received a letter from MIFI requesting additional documents.

MIFI has created a tutorial video (available in French only) that explains how to submit CAQ supporting documents electronically. There is also a webform that students can use to ask technical questions.

*Note: Students who have already mailed their supporting documents to MIFI should NOT resubmit their supporting documents through the online system Arrima.

Finally, current McGill students who benefit from the automatic CAQ extension do not need to submit a CAQ application, for more information see our FAQs page under the Current Students FAQs tab.

Important update for students who will complete their program in the Summer 2020 or Fall 2020 term:

The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) has made an important update that impacts students who hold a CAQ that expires on or after April 30^th, 2020 and before December 31^st, 2020. Students whose CAQs expire during this time period and who have not completed their program, will automatically be issued an extension of their CAQ until December 31^st, 2020. This update only affects students who will complete their program in the Summer 2020 or Fall 2020 term (i.e. by December 31, 2020). We invite you to read the full details of this update directly on MIFI’s website.

Students affected by this update will still need to apply to extend their study permit online. When applying for their study permit, they should include a cover letter that makes reference to the MIFI update, a copy of MIFI’s website (print out or screenshot), and a copy of their current CAQ even if it is expired.

Finally, if you are completing your program in Fall 2020 and you would like to apply for your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and/or you would like to stay in Canada after December 31^st, 2020, please refer to our Immigration Documents FAQs in the coming weeks for updates on what procedure to follow. We will be updating our website as new information becomes available. Please contact us directly in late summer/early fall if you have further questions.

Dear International Students,

We know that for many of you, McGill has become a second home, and that you’ve built incredible friendships and communities here. However, this is certainly a time to be in the place you feel best supported, and many of you may prefer to return home if you feel able to do so. It has been confirmed that students will not be required to be physically on campus for the rest of the Winter 2020 term; this means that there will be no in-person classes and no in-person sit-down examinations for this term. It has also been confirmed that the term will conclude on time as previously scheduled.

If you wish to leave Montreal or Canada to return home, you can do so without needing to return to campus later on in the term. It is, however, important to acknowledge that if you do return home, and home is outside Canada, it may be difficult to return to Canada for the time being, so please ensure that you are returning somewhere you feel safe and supported.

Your parents may also be very worried about your situation; we encourage you to share all communications that you receive from McGill with them. We will continue to share with you the most up-to-date information that we have to help you make decisions to ensure your safety and well-being.

• International Student Services (ISS) will continue to provide information and advice on questions related to your immigration documents and status in Canada for the coming weeks: international.students [at] mcgill.ca.
• ISS will answer questions related to your Blue Cross Health Insurance coverage as long as you stay in Canada. Testing and treatments for COVID-19 are fully covered. For more info, email international.health [at] mcgill.ca.
• All questions related to your academics should be directed to your Faculty or Graduate Department.
• McGill’s Scholarships and Student Aid office can offer some emergency financial aid for either travelling or living expenses. For more details, consult the SSAO website.
• Bookmark and consult regularly both the ISS and McGill’s COVID-19 websites for the most up-to-date information for international students.
• Many of McGill’s support services are moving online, meaning that you will still be able to access support from your home country.
• Keep.meSAFE, a mental health counselling service offered to students in partnership with SSMU and PGSS, is available to all students, regardless of where you are in the world. This service provides 24/7 access to licensed counsellors through telephone and mobile chat in more than 60 languages. To access this service, download the MySSP app in the Apple App Store or Google Play. 

Stay safe!
The International Student Services Team

IRCC Expands Special Measures for Applicants in Iran and South Korea affected by the novel coronavirus.

• For the latest updates, please refer to IRCC's News and Notices.

Biometrics updates - Inside Canada applications

• Effective as of December 3^rd, 2019, foreign nationals applying for temporary resident documents from inside Canada must submit their biometrics. This includes study permit extensions, applications for post-graduation work permits and visitor extensions. For a full list of who needs to provide biometrics and for a list of exemptions, see IRCC’s website.
• Once you receive a biometrics instruction letter, you must make an appointment to give your biometrics at a designated Service Canada office. Type “Quebec” in the box next to “Filter Items” for a full list of Service Canada offices in Quebec that collect biometrics. This list will also include ports of entry (POE), such as land borders and airports. If you have applied online for your temporary resident documents, you must provide biometrics at a designated Service Canada office and not at a POE.
• If you are authorized to apply for a study permit or work permit at a port of entry, you will be able to apply for your temporary resident document and provide your biometrics at the port of entry.
• Note: US citizens are exempt from the biometrics requirement.
• For more information, please consult IRCC’s website.

PEQ Program updates

• MIFI has temporarily suspended the changes to the PEQ.

• Follow the MIFI website for most up to date news about the PEQ Program.

• And for most recent news releases on PEQ, please visit the MIFI communications website.

PEQ Program Updates

On July 10, 2019 the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), temporarily suspended the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) for international students that have graduated from a Québec educational institution.

On October 30, 2019 MIFI announced that the PEQ program for Québec graduates will re-open on November 1, 2019. Effective as of November 1, 2019 the PEQ program eligibility requirements for Québec graduates has changed. These changes may effect your eligibility to the PEQ program for Québec graduates.

We invite you to consult MIFI’s website for full details on the changes to the PEQ program for Québec graduates.

We would also like to bring to your attention that there are other pathways to apply for permanent residence which you may be eligible for and that are offered by MIFI. For example the Regular Skilled Worker Program or the PEQ program for skilled temporary foreign workers.

Note: Our office still cannot provide individual advising on permanent residence. During the Fall 2019 term, two information sessions on applying for permanent residence in Quebec will be delivered by a representative of MIFI. These information sessions will be held on November 28, 2019 at our downtown campus and on December 4, 2019 at our Macdonald campus. Please visit our website to register for one of these sessions. We will be hosting additional sessions in the Winter 2020 term as well.