If you've been approved for a study permit but a personal or family issue means you can no longer travel, group members outlined the practical route for withdrawing and seeking a refund.
Steps suggested:- Submit a webform request through IRCC to formally withdraw or decline your approved study permit application, rather than simply not showing up.
- Separately, contact your college/institution and your GIC bank to request a refund of tuition and the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) — refund policies and timelines vary by institution and bank, so check their specific process.
- Before withdrawing, it's worth pausing to weigh whether not traveling actually resolves the underlying family issue, since visa/GIC funds and timelines are hard to reverse once processed.
Note: processing time for withdrawal confirmation varies case by case; the thread didn't give a definitive number, so follow up directly with IRCC and your institution for status updates.