<p>It seems that to get a Canadian study permit when you're under 18, you need to find a local Canadian to act as a guardian. </p>
<p>Is that hard to find for a few months, say if the student won't turn 18 until December of Freshman year. Is this a common issue?</p>
<p>It would seem that McGill could be a great safety school for an potential ivy calibre student if it weren't for the age issue. </p>
<p>Any comments?</p>
<p>Yes. McGill becomes your Guardian. This is often done with
no problems.</p>
<p>Thank goodness.
In case I end up going to Mcgill, I don't turn 18 until september first! talk about close...</p>
<p>If you're under 18 there's one additional step in getting your student visa -- you have to send a letter requesting a McGill official to act as your guardian and get a written response that needs to be attached to the Provincial visa request. Just be sure to leave a little extra time. The school will give you all the details.</p>
<p>its not a problem at all.
the dean was my legal guardian for two months.
the only thing that has to happen is that you MUST live in Rez until you are 18.</p>
<p>jpm150: Do you have to specifically request for McGill to write you a letter or do they see your age and do it automatically for you? I'm a year younger than everyone in my grade, I just turned 17 b/c I skipped a grade.</p>
<p>you have to write mcgill.
theres info in the packet they send you with your admissions letter</p>
<p>i also am newly 17 (january) and have been wondering how mcgill handles this. i guess the only real downside is being underage during frosh week. but are they very strict about it?</p>
<p>beatlespwr -- you're a current student right? what a wealth of information!</p>
<p>glad i can be useful</p>
<p>here is what you do:</p>
<p>when mcgill sends you your acceptance letter, there will be a booklet about all the visas/forms. there will be somethinga bout sending a letter to the dean.
follow that procedure.
the rest is outlined for you.</p>
<p>about being underage.
when you sign up for frosh, say you are 18.
its not a big deal. everyone does it (infact, my frosh leader told me to do it this year).
find someone to lend you a fake ID until you turn 18. or bring one with you.
it doesnt have to look that much like you.
you may have problems during frosh week, but not after that.</p>
<p>If you really want to drink, just avoid the froshy spots during frosh week...</p>
<p>thats not even necessary.</p>
<p>as long as you say you are 18 when signing up for frosh, you'll get the frosh beer.
the onyl things thats slightly problematic is getting into the clubs at night. thats where the fake ID comes into play</p>
<p>jhhilly, beatlespwr has the guardian process exactly right. It may look complicated at first -- McGill really loves beauracracy -- but it really isn't that difficult. Just follow the directions in the papers they send you. And don't worry about being under 18 -- you'll have a lot of company.</p>
<p>haha, beatlespwr helps again! drinking is certainly not my top priority, and i would still adore mcgill and the surrounding city if the drinking age were 35, but just a little more clarification please:</p>
<p>how does montreal generally handle fake IDs? i'm from boston, and have heard that using fake IDs here isn't always successful and can land a person in quite a bit of trouble. i'd be more likely to use one in montreal to see live music. do they card everywhere and often?</p>
<p>and for frosh, could lying about my age during sign-up get me in trouble with the school or local police? i love to party as much as the next person, but i've always been veeeery nervous lying or breaking laws..</p>
<p>lying during sign up will nto get you into trouble (slight disclaimer: in the event you do get into trouble, i'm not responsible). but really. no trouble.</p>
<p>fake id's: just look enough like the person int he picture.
they dont really care.
and if they do, theyll just turn you away. </p>
<p>carding:
depends where you are. some clubs and some bars will always card, some will never. </p>
<p>but its not a big deal</p>
<p>Many 1st years are 17 years old-it is not a problem.</p>