A student with fees paid for a September intake at Conestoga College had no visa decision as classes approached and asked whether to defer and what happens to the fees. Members with the same college shared what the policy was at the time:
- Tell the college and request a deferral before classes start. Deferral is a formal request — don't simply not show up, or you risk losing both the seat and the fees.
- A visa refusal could trigger a refund — but with a deadline. Members said Conestoga refunded fees if the visa wasn't granted, but only up to a cutoff (December 31 for that intake). After the cutoff, no refund was available even with a rejection letter in hand. This was described as a Conestoga-specific policy, not a universal rule — every college sets its own terms.
- Check the online-classes policy. One member suggested checking whether the college allowed starting online while awaiting the visa, which can avoid deferring at all.
- Act early. The practical lesson across the thread: the gap between "no decision yet" and "refund deadline passed" closes quickly, so contact the college the moment a visa delay looks likely.
(Thread is from the COVID-era period when online starts were common; refund and deferral policies change by college and year — always confirm the current written policy with your institution.)