Moving to Canada With an Elementary-School Child: A Study Permit for Graduate School and a Family Relocation｜Ms. A
Date Posted:October 14, 2025
Last Updated:September 20, 2026
Now in her fifties, Ms. A decided that returning to study would be her next challenge in life. Together with her 11-year-old child, she applied for a study permit with the aim of moving the family from Japan to Victoria, Canada. The permit came through about four and a half months after filing. She achieved two goals at once: giving her child the experience of living abroad, and resuming her own studies at graduate school.
Having them file on my behalf felt thoroughly professional — they checked the documents down to the small details, and it gave me real peace of mind.
Study Permit
N/A
N/A
Japan
About 4.5 months
Customer Comments and Testimonials
Why did you decide to immigrate to Canada?
Having passed fifty, I wanted to go back to study so I could take on something new in my career from here, and I wanted my child (11) to build self-reliance through life overseas, interacting with people from different cultures and historical backgrounds.
What made you choose Shiraishi VisaJP Canada?
At first I had only a vague sense of what I wanted to do in Canada, with no clear direction on how to go about it. As I researched what kind of visa strategy to build, I decided to contact VisaJP because of their extensive track record with visas. Ms. Shiraishi, an immigration consultant, took charge of choosing a school and mapping out the route to immigration. She organised what had been vague into something concrete, and we were able to move forward.
What was the most memorable part of the process?
After the study permit was filed, the immigration authority’s website said four weeks, but that stretched to six weeks, then eight, and finally more than ten — an unexpectedly long wait. I thought I had booked our departure tickets with plenty of margin, but in the end the permit came through five days before our planned departure. Along with relief, I felt strongly that we had only just made it. I had originally intended to apply myself and had started the process, but there were points a layman simply cannot judge, so partway through I asked VisaJP to file on my behalf after all. Ms. Gould, the consultant handling the visa application, advised me on preparing documents I had thought unnecessary, checked every detail of the paperwork, and moved things to filing very quickly. If I had carried on applying myself, I do not think the permit would have made it in time, between corrections and additional documents.
How was Shiraishi VisaJP Canada’s service?
Because they are government-licensed immigration consultants, the advice was grounded in the current system, and that was very reassuring. They never spoke vaguely, and their willingness to state clearly what is and is not possible earned my trust. As for filing on my behalf, the impression was thoroughly professional — they checked the documents down to the small details, and it gave me real peace of mind.
Future outlook and a message for those planning to travel to Canada
I obtained a study permit valid until February 2028 and have begun my graduate studies. After that I plan to apply for a post-graduation work permit and stay in Canada for a few more years. My child may well continue at school in Canada too, in which case we will look at staying on a study permit. Life in Victoria, surrounded by a mild climate and nature, is genuinely comfortable and leaves room to breathe. Canada may bring Vancouver to mind first, but I would encourage you to add Victoria to your list of options.
Additional Comments
Thank you for everything. I plan to consult you again next year about our visa strategy going forward.
Ms. A began living in Canada just eight months after first contacting us. She acted quickly, and I think everything went smoothly. We worked as a team: I handled the overall plan and mapping out the route, Ms. Maitland the school applications, and Ms. Gould the study permit.
When we first spoke, my impression was that she had researched both schools and visas thoroughly. She wanted her child to attend school in Canada for at least three years, and while there was a chance of returning to Japan after a few years, she wanted to keep permanent residence within reach in case they decided to stay long term. So, with an eye to what would come next in either Japan or Canada after graduation, I recommended graduate studies.
The plan was to travel first as elementary-school study abroad for the child, and then, once the child had settled into life in Canada, for the parent to begin the graduate programme — an arrangement that let both the child and the family start life in Canada without undue strain. For graduate school we chose a programme in the environmental field, which is in high demand worldwide right now.
Victoria, BC is the mildest and one of the most beautiful cities in Canada. We are delighted that they have taken to life there. We continue to cheer on the child’s happy life in Canada and the parent’s rewarding time at graduate school.
Immigration Consultant
Born in Japan. After earning a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan, she worked for six years in New York as a marketing consultant at a major travel agency, while also studying in an MBA program at the City University of New York. After returning to Japan, she managed the visa center of the same travel company, handling various international visa applications for foreign clients.
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