Humber Jan 2027 vs Seneca May 2027 backup plan - visa delay & changing colleges

Hi everyone,
I’m an international student and I’ve been overthinking my study plan, so I’d really appreciate some advice from anyone who’s been through something similar.

My classes start on January 11, 2027 at Humber College (January 2027)

I’m planning to apply for my study permit around mid-November because my family is still arranging our finances. I know current processing times are around 5 weeks, but I’m worried about unexpected delays.

I’m completely fine with travelling to Canada a week or even a little less before classes start. My concern is only if my study permit is approved so late that I can’t reach Canada before the program begins.

My questions are:

1. If my study permit is approved after classes have already started, will Humber usually allow a late arrival (for example, after missing a few days or about a week)? Is there an official last date for international students to join?

2. If Humber doesn’t allow me to start late and also i cant defer my program as the next available intake is September 2027, what are my options?

3. I’m considering applying to Seneca’s program for May 2027 as a backup. Has anyone done something similar?

4. ⭐️If my study permit has already been approved for Humber but I’m still in my country, and I decide to attend Seneca instead because I missed the Humber intake, what happens?
   ◦ Do I need to apply for a completely new study permit?
   ◦ Or can I update/change my existing approval?

5. Has anyone here had their study permit approved too late for one intake and then successfully switched to another college or a later intake? How did the process work?

I’m just trying to prepare for the worst-case scenario so I don’t lose almost an entire year because of processing delays.
I’d really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. Thanks!