From Tashkent to a small Canadian town: the story of a Fanshawe College student

Ali is from Tashkent. Before moving to Canada, he studied for two years at the economics faculty of an architectural institute in Uzbekistan, took an academic leave, and started a new chapter in his life as a student in the Social Service Worker program at Fanshawe College. He shared how he chose the country and city, prepared for the move, searched for housing, found a job, and adjusted to life in a small Canadian town.

From tourist visa rejection to a deliberate decision to study

The idea to move to Canada was Ali's own. He compared different countries and aspects of life, and in the end, Canada seemed like the best option. Before applying to study, he wanted to see the country with his own eyes and applied for a tourist visa, reasoning that choosing a city to live in should be a conscious decision, and information on the internet often doesn't match reality. His visa was denied, but this didn't stop Ali, and he reached out to immigration consultant Ivanna Pavlenko for advice.

Together they developed a new plan. Ali took academic leave during his second year at his university in Uzbekistan and used this as the basis to start the application process for a Canadian college. This approach, where interrupted but unfinished education becomes the foundation for a new educational path, is often used when working with applicants who previously received a tourist visa rejection.

Why Social Service Worker

Ali explains his choice of program by its promising prospects and the attention Canada gives to this field, including various grants and support programs. In Uzbekistan, the social worker profession is practically non-existent, and for Ali this was something both new and appealing. The Social Service Worker program at Fanshawe College is two years long and includes a practical component: 15 weeks of mandatory internship at a social services organization, which gives students real work experience before they even graduate.

Preparing English without IELTS

Before submitting his documents, Ali took a placement test at ILAC language school, one of Canada's major language schools that offers the Pathway program. This is a way to get into Canadian educational institutions without taking standard exams like IELTS, available if you have a certain starting language level: students take online courses and upon completion receive a certificate that's accepted instead of exam results. Ali's first test showed a B2 level, which is pretty good, but he had difficulties with writing and grammar, and Ali really didn't want to take IELTS.

The program required a level of 3.2 on the Pathway internal scale, and Ali finished his preparation with a 3.4 result. Classes were held online daily, in a group with participants from Mexico, India, and other countries, including one Russian-speaking student who had already moved to Canada. The time zone difference meant Ali had to join classes early in the morning, around 5 or 6 o'clock, but according to him, it was this daily practice with speakers of different accents that best helped him develop his conversational skills and prepare for studying in Canada.

Visa, documents, and biometrics

Despite the previous tourist visa rejection, Ali felt confident, relying on his consultant's experience and approval statistics. There's no visa center in Uzbekistan where you can submit biometric data, so for his first application Ali traveled to Almaty, Kazakhstan. Biometric data, fingerprints and photo, are valid for 10 years, so when reapplying for a student visa, a second trip wasn't necessary.

Finding housing in Simcoe

Ali started working on the housing question in advance, browsing marketplaces, social media, and booking sites, but there weren't many options in the small town of Simcoe. Unlike the campus in London, the Fanshawe campus in Simcoe doesn't have its own dormitory, so all students have to find housing on their own. Ali booked a hotel for the first week after arrival and within that week found a room from a Russian-speaking landlord.

Windsor University Has Blazed a New Trail in ...

Free conference about life and work in Northe...

Canadian visa centers in Russia have stopped ...

The number of people wanting to join the Cana...

China offers Canada joint production of elect...

Trump stripped Canada of its seat on the pres...

Canadians rallied around Prime Minister Carne...

Arctic cold has covered Canada with temperatu...

Trump lashed out at Carney after his speech i...

Canadian companies plan to raise salaries by ...

Gold breaks records and continues to rise des...

Prime Minister Carney concludes a nine-day wo...

Based on his observations, renting a room of acceptable quality in Simcoe costs on average about $700 CAD per month plus insurance and utilities, while shared accommodation in a room for two starts at a lower price. Ali was lucky: he rents a private room in the basement of a brand new house for $525 CAD, and including insurance and utilities the total amount last month was about $650 CAD. For comparison, if Ali were renting in London, expenses would be roughly 40% higher.

Life in a small town without public transportation

Ali arrived in Canada in January, initially expecting to end up in London, but the campus he was enrolled in turned out to be in Simcoe. According to him, it's not a bad option for starting independent life: the town is small, but all the necessary infrastructure is there. The main inconvenience was the lack of public transportation—Simcoe has neither bus nor rail service, so you have to get around by car or on foot. Ali walks two kilometers each way every day, which he considers more of a health benefit than a downside.

How border crossing went

At the border, Ali had no issues: according to him, he got through in three or four minutes, much faster than many other passengers, because he had prepared a complete set of documents in advance. He had his admission letter, bank statement, housing booking confirmation, medical certificate, and police clearance certificate with him. From Toronto airport, the college recommended ordering a transfer to London for about $120 CAD, but he had to separately order a taxi to Simcoe that same evening, which turned out to be Ali's most expensive single trip in Canada.

Difference in approach to education

Comparing his studies at the Uzbek university and the Canadian college, Ali notes a fundamental difference in quality and teaching methods. In Canada, the relationship between students and teachers is more horizontal: there's no strict hierarchy, teachers are open, supportive when students make mistakes, and don't demand perfect results but help where it's needed. The college has a free academic support system: if you're struggling with material, you can get additional tutoring, and with documented health conditions, including ADHD and other conditions, students are given extra time on exams and a separate room to take them.

In such cases, the academic load can be reduced: instead of a full course load per semester, a student takes 3 or 4 courses, and the program stretches to 3 years instead of the standard two, but proceeds at a comfortable pace. According to Ali, this individualized approach reflects the general principle of inclusiveness in the Canadian education system.

Schedule and Program Structure

On paper, Ali's group has 18 people enrolled, but on average about 10 or 12 students attend classes. The school day consists of four hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon, broken into 50-minute blocks with 10-minute breaks, and a lunch break lasting between one hour and an hour and a half. Most students study five days a week, but the program allows you to choose a 3 or 4-day format depending on individual needs.

In his first semester, Ali studied counseling, documentation—which is a course that teaches you how to properly record a client's condition and requests on paper—social policy, sociology, and psychology: about 6 or 7 subjects in total.

Career Paths and Practical Experience

Graduates of the Social Service Worker program can work in non-profit organizations that provide free assistance to people with disabilities, mental health issues, suicide attempt survivors, as well as seniors and children. The range of fields is broad, and students choose which category of clients they're most comfortable working with, since some areas involve serious emotional stress. During their studies, practicing professionals from different areas of social work regularly visit students and talk about their daily work, which helps future graduates decide on their specialization.

Internship and Work at a Seniors' Home

As a student, Ali took the opportunity to work and volunteer at a seniors' residence. The age of residents ranges from about 50 to 94 years old. Meals are provided five times a day: three full meals and two light snacks. Entertainment is organized for residents, including watching movies on a big screen, and they're offered a choice between a private room or a shared room for two. Staff are present at the residence 24/7, and the level of care is strictly regulated at the government level, which, according to Ali's observations, ensures consistently high quality of services.

The cost of living in such a residence starts at about $1,500 CAD per month and can reach $4,000 or $5,000 CAD depending on the conditions, particularly whether the person wants to live in a private room. The experience of working at the seniors' home helped Ali understand that communication and attention are often more important than anything else for this category of clients, and practical duties at the residence include helping with hygiene, changing linens, and general care.

Working While Studying

As a full-time student, Ali is allowed to work off-campus up to 24 hours per week during the academic semester. This is the current limit for 2026 set by IRCC: the limit was increased from the previous 20 hours and has been established as a permanent rule for full-time students at accredited educational institutions since November 2024. During official breaks, there's no hour limit. Beginning workers are usually offered 18 or 20 hours per week, and then the workload is gradually increased as the employer needs.

Ali currently works at KFC, where he's paid the minimum wage for Ontario. As of 2026, the general minimum hourly wage in Ontario is $17.60 CAD, and will increase to $17.95 CAD on October 1, 2026.

Driver's License in Ontario

Having no driving experience in Uzbekistan, Ali decided to get his license in Canada and passed the written test for the G1 category on his first try, paying $165 CAD for the test. After getting the G1, a future driver needs to accumulate practical experience before taking the test for the G2 category: on your own this takes about a year, but with training at an accredited driving school, the waiting period is reduced to about 8 months. Driving school training costs between $900 and $1,500, and sometimes up to $2,000 CAD depending on the program, but provides two practical advantages: individual lessons with an instructor and lower car insurance costs after getting your license.

Friends, Leisure, and Daily Life

In his first few months in Canada, Ali has made friends and notes that local people are open, friendly, and don't judge you for your accent or foreign background. He doesn't have much free time for entertainment, movies, or bowling—which are available in Simcoe—due to his tight schedule of studying, internship, and work, but overall he considers his social life sufficient.

Groceries, Savings, and Daily Expenses

There's no Russian store in Simcoe, so some familiar products, including buckwheat and beets, are brought to Ali from nearby Hamilton by his landlord, who speaks Russian himself. Ali does his main shopping at Walmart, where, in his observation, prices are lower than in other stores in town with comparable quality. In his first few months in Canada, Ali has learned several practical money-saving rules: carefully reading the product ingredients on the package, comparing price and quality, preferring natural products with less sugar, and cooking for himself instead of ordering prepared food. On average, he spends between $300 and $400 CAD per month on groceries.

Pros and Cons of Life in Canada

Ali identifies the main advantages of Canadian life as safety, comfort in every sense of the word, and general accessibility of infrastructure and services. As for downsides, he points out only one, but a significant one: the healthcare system, specifically the difficulty of finding your own family doctor. At the same time, he acknowledges that once you find a doctor, the quality of medical care in Canada remains free and is at a high level, which, in his assessment, outweighs the temporary inconvenience at the start. Ali doesn't consider the higher cost of living compared to Uzbekistan a disadvantage, since it's offset by safety, quality of healthcare, and the fact that laws and rules in the country actually work.

Impressions, Travel, and Future Plans

The most expensive purchase Ali has made during his time in Canada was a plane ticket: he's planning to meet his parents in Istanbul after finishing his first semester. What he misses most are his parents, relatives, and homemade borscht.

Ali says the most beautiful place he's visited so far is Toronto, particularly the CN Tower, which, according to him, offers an impressive view of the city. In his future plans, after getting his full driver's license, Ali wants to go to British Columbia and Vancouver to travel more around the country on his own.

Advice for Future Students

Looking back, Ali advises his past self to spend more time on language preparation before moving. His story shows that an initial refusal for a tourist visa doesn't mean the end of the road: with a revised strategy and properly prepared documents, you can successfully obtain a student visa, enroll in your chosen program, and within the first few months in Canada, combine studies with internships and part-time work.

For those considering studying in Canada and wanting to avoid common mistakes when choosing a program, college, and preparing documents, it would be helpful to get a consultation with a qualified specialist.