If you are deciding between the United States and Canada to study English, you have probably heard every kind of opinion: that in one country it is easier, that in the other you can work better, that one "wins" and the other does not. The honest comparison is different: they are two different processes, and the one that suits you depends on your plan. There is no better country: there is the one that fits what you want to achieve.
In the United States, the path starts with a school approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which issues your Form I-20. Then you pay the SEVIS fee, complete form DS-160, and present your case at a consular interview. The interview is usually short, and in it the officer evaluates your study plan and your ties to your country: you must show that your intention is to study and return when you finish.
In Canada, the path is different: there is no consular interview as such. You need a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI), and in most cases a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL); in Quebec, the equivalent is the CAQ. You submit your application online to IRCC, provide your biometrics, and an officer decides based on your file: study plan, funds, and the coherence of your case.
In the United States, the basic government cost is $535: $350 for the SEVIS fee and $185 for the interview fee. Keep in mind that an additional fee may apply at the time of visa issuance; check the current amount with your consulate before the interview. You must also show that you can pay all your education, living, and travel costs. A detail many do not know: your sponsor does not have to be a relative; it can be almost any person or organization, as long as they have verifiable liquid funds.
In Canada, the application fees are CAD $150 for the study permit and CAD $85 for biometrics. But the most demanding requirement is another one: proof of funds. You must show that you can pay your first year's tuition, your living expenses, and your return trip. For a single applicant outside Quebec, the living-expenses figure reported for applications from September 1, 2026 is CAD $23,448 per year, in addition to tuition and travel. And since July 2026, officers assess the source of funds in every application: it is not enough for the amount to be in the account; you must explain where it came from. Before applying, check the current table on IRCC's official page, because this figure is updated every year.
Here is the difference that causes the most confusion, and it is worth stating precisely.
On an F-1 visa in the United States, you can work up to 20 hours per week on campus while classes are in session, with the approval of your school's designated school official. What many do not know: if your program is English only, you are not eligible for practical training (neither CPT nor OPT). Those pathways exist for degree programs, not for language programs.
In Canada, eligible students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus during academic terms, and full time during scheduled breaks. But note: that permission depends on your program and your institution, and it is not automatic for all language programs. If your plan is to study English only in Canada, check before counting on that income whether your program gives you the right to work off campus. If you are going to Canada to take English as a prerequisite for a longer program, your permit covers that period plus 90 days; after that you must apply for the longer program's permit from inside Canada.
Forget the question "which country is better?" and ask yourself these three:
What will you study after English? If your plan is English only and then returning home, the United States process — with its interview and its I-20 — may be the direct path. If your plan is to continue to a degree program, Canada rewards the coherence of that full plan in your file.
Are you counting on working to support yourself? In the United States, on-campus work is limited and is not a plan to fund your studies. In Canada, off-campus work exists, but only if your program makes you eligible. In no case should you base your budget on income you have not yet confirmed.
How are your funds and your time? Canada requires proof of funds with the source explained, and the process is decided on the file, which takes weeks. The United States decides in a short interview, but that interview demands preparation: clear answers from the first minute and solid ties to your country.
The United States and Canada are not competing for you: each has a different process, cost, and set of rules, and the right one is the one that fits your plan, your budget, and your goal after English. Compare them by the official rules, not by rumors, and decide with information.
Questions about whether the United States or Canada suits you? Message us on WhatsApp — orientation is free throughout the whole process.
Note: this guide is informational. Visa and study permit requirements are set by the immigration authorities of the United States and Canada and may change; confirm current figures on the official portals before acting.
