June 13th, 2024 at 04:05 am

8 New PGWP Changes for International Students | Canada New Updates

Eight new modifications to the Post-Graduation Work Permit program are being introduced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in Canada. With these modifications, international students will have a better transition from education to work, improving their overall experience and possibilities in Canada.

Eight potential modifications are being surveyed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the post-graduation work permit program for overseas students. These proposed changes aim to lower the total number of PGWP holders while matching the needs of the labor market with international students.

It is being examined to apply these additional modifications to the eligibility requirements to both current and future cohorts of international students studying in Canada. The PGWP program, which offers employment prospects following the end of a study program, has played a significant role in drawing in international students.

However, to combat systemic misuse, Canada made significant modifications to the program this year. Now, a new eight-point survey suggests that the program is being further refined. We’ll go over each of the survey’s eight points in this blog post, along with their potential implications for both current and prospective international students studying in Canada.

Results from Survey Conducted on Colleges & Universities

It appears that for students to be eligible for PGWP after completing their studies, they would need to fulfill additional language criteria and finish programs linked to labor shortages, according to survey questions given to colleges and universities. This would imply courses that are created to meet the educational requirements of jobs for which a labor shortage is predicted shortly.

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) of Canada would categorize study programs based on the results of the eight-point survey. For example, carpenters might be placed in one of three academic programs: woodworking, carpentry, or construction.

Questions Asked During the Survey

Question 1

Which professions should be included depending on the needs in your area if PGWP eligibility were limited only to jobs, shortages, and related programs of study?

The IRCC anticipates agreeing on the addition of new, in-demand jobs to the ones previously identified by ESDC and IRCC, as well as those that are already qualified for the Express Entry targeted draw, after feedback from educational institutions across various provinces.

Question 2

What if any cohorts—graduate programs, francophone students, or others—should be spared from these modifications?

This is comparable to several of the PGWP modifications that have already occurred, such as the preference for Masters and PhD program graduates by offering three-year PGWP regardless of the length of their study program.

Newly suggested modifications, however, are intended to determine whether PGWP occupation-based study program eligibility requirements should be based on French language proficiency or should exclude specific degree programs.

Question 3

If an international student wants to keep their PGWP for longer than a year, should they have to show that they have a job offer that matches the occupational shortage list?

Should this be included in the PGWP eligibility requirements, students will need to provide documentation of a job offer to continue participating in PGWP. This appears to be limited to study programs that will be in line with the Occupational Shortage List specified in the first question, rather than being universal.

Question 4

Should PGWP holders who want to extend their permit beyond a year be subject to any additional qualifying requirements, such as language barriers or provincial support, in addition to a work offer?

This is an extension of eligibility to the third question. It implies that for students to continue working on PGWP after the first year, they might need to submit an additional language competence exam and obtain provincial approval.

Question 5

How about extending PGWP eligibility to all graduates upon announcement this year, based on labor market changes, instead of grandfathering in students who are currently enrolled at Canadian universities at the time of implementation?

This is a crucial aspect that current students in Canada who are engaged in study programs are kind of having hanging over their necks. This inquiry suggests that labor market-driven modifications to PGWP eligibility may be disclosed this year, and the immigration agency is debating whether or not to exempt current students.

Any new government policy would typically exempt current cohorts, but it appears that Minister Miller is prepared to make a firm stand. Nonetheless, he wishes to solidify his stance on this and is anticipated to rely on his choice of how educational institutions respond to this query.

Question 6

When should students who are already enrolled in classes be added to the occupational shortage list, and how frequently should it be revised?

It seems like the answer to this question is obvious. The agency is asking stakeholders to decide how often to revise in-demand jobs and when they should become effective, given that the labor market is always evolving.

For instance, this list of occupations ought to be updated every three or two years, and when it is, kids who are still in school should be able to use it. For example, start the following semester or six months after a new list is created

Question 7

Do the candidates’ profiles that you would like to see continue working in your jurisdictions over the long run match the PGWP modifications that are being considered?

The purpose of this survey question is to ascertain if the revised requirements for post-graduation work permits will be successful in keeping students in the province or area of the educational institution over the long run.

Question 8

Is your PNP position to provide international graduates with work opportunities in these important industries with a feasible pathway to permanent residence? Do your PNP’s current streams and the labor market demands you’ve discovered differ in any way? Will PNP stream changes be necessary to make sure they continue to be relevant to PGWP holders and graduates in particular occupations, such as regulated jobs?

It appears that the eighth survey question aims to make sure that students are prepared for a permanent residency pathway and are proactively in line with the qualifying rules of the province’s Provincial Nominee Program. It also aims to ascertain if the province’s labor market demands are best met by the current PNP streams and whether any changes to license requirements or other regulations are necessary for particular professions.

Raising the likelihood of a foreign student’s conversion from temporary to permanent residency is a good attempt to at least position them for success. International students will greatly benefit from the planned improvements to the IRCC’s work permit program after graduation.

These changes aim to improve student absorption into the Canadian workforce and expedite procedures, further solidifying Canada’s position as a leading international education destination.