Acceptance letter and Canadian Student Visa?

Do I have to pay processing fees for a study permit when I have an acceptance letter?

• I was told to just send a copy of my acceptance letter to the Canadian embassy in the United States for a study permit. The los angeles student visa office is charging me $125 for processing fees which I'm having trouble getting. Can't I get a study permit for free from the ambassador him/herself? If not, could I get the processing fees waived? Finally, is there a deadline to purchase a study permit, my school doesn't have a deadline but I assume the Embassy has a deadline. I'll be attending the University of Saskatchewan starting September, 2012 and since the processing takes a month, I was going to buy the visa a month before I attend school. I understand that I can't attend the school for more than 6 months if I don't have the visa.

• Answer:

  I doubt there's any way to waive the processing fee - there isn't for student visas in the United States. Governments tend to assume that if you can afford an international education, you can afford a couple dollars for processing.