Immigration Forum / Canada / October 2003

    You seem very confused.

    There is no such thing as a "student visa", known to me.

    Citizens of many countries need only a "study permit" to study
in Canada, and some others need a visa to enter in Canada. This is called
the "Temporary Resident Visa" (TRV), previously known as a "Visitor Visa"

    Unlike the USA which has a specific visa class (F-1) for students,
Canada does not. So, many foreign students in Canada are walking around with
only a study permit + passport, while some others also carry a currently
or previously valid "entry" visa, the TRV. + study permit + passport.

    I'm guessing your friend has a TRV upto Mar 2004, and that should
be fine for re-entry until Mar 2004, since anyway C&IC will ask about
current status/proof at the border, anyway. If your friend is traveling to
the USA, [s]he does not need a valid entry visa to re-enter. Just a
valid study permit is enough.

    Interestingly, some TRVs have "Visitor" also typed on it, and some
others, "Student" -- with 'file numbers' like "V123456...." or "S123456...",
even when visas are issued from the C&IC post, to the same University in
Canada, etc. I believe this is not something to worry about.

    Hope this helps,

        --ravi.

No prob. at all. The multiple entry visa is totally separate from
study permit, it allows you re-enter the country during its validation
as long as you have a leagal status(student/work permit) in Canada.