<p>im a 3rd year student at mcgill, so i got mine a long time ago! but when i applied it took over two months for it to be processed… and i sent it out in june, and i didn’t recieve it before heading up to mcgill… hence i was stuck at the border while the customs agents attempted to clear me (as my CAQ was approved, just never reached me before i left)… once i was cleared i was forced to go to the quebec consulate in montreal and process documents before i could even get my student ID card and move into my residence… it was a HUGE hassle! So make sure to get your CAQ asap.</p>
<p>you cannot get your study permit without a CAQ- unless they changed the rules, but doubtful. You can’t “send away” for it either, you have to actually go in to a consulate or to customs and process the information. unless they changed things there too.</p>