September 8th, 2024 at 03:54 am

Canada New Work Hours Rules for Students | Canada Students Latest Update

To better meet the needs of international students and the demands of the labor market, Canada is aggressively resolving issues with its immigration and student regulations. Significant adjustments have recently been made to the off-campus job hours for international students to give those who are studying in Canada more flexibility and opportunity.

To further improve Pathways to permanent residency, several provinces, notably British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario, have invited individuals to seek provincial nomination. These improvements demonstrate Canada’s dedication to using smart immigration policy to boost international talent and promote economic growth.

International Students in Rich Canada Social, Cultural, and Economic Fabric

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made changes to the program for international students in recent months to maintain system integrity and shield students from financial risk and fraud.

The temporary provision permitting students to work more than 20 hours per week off campus will expire on April 30, 2024, and it won’t be renewed this autumn, according to Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Mark Miller. The maximum time students may work off-campus each week will now be 24 hours.

Visitors to Canada must be there to further their studies. Because of this, letting students work up to 24 hours a week will guarantee that they prioritize their education while yet having the opportunity to work when needed. Students with a planned academic vacation can continue working an unrestricted number of hours as we approach the summer session.

When crafting this modification, we considered the requirements of foreign student rules in addition to studies demonstrating that the more a student works while studying, the worse their academic performance is. Additionally, it creates the right balance so that kids can work without sacrificing their academic performance. Soon, more information will be released.

Additionally, we’re working on completing the new framework for recognized schools, which will honor postsecondary educational establishments that have strict guidelines for admitting, assisting, and maintaining international students. We will keep defending the integrity of the international student program and supporting and shielding international students from financial risk.

Further Details

Recent research from the US and Canada has demonstrated that students who work more than 28 hours a week experience a significant reduction in their academic performance, and that working more than 24 hours a week increases the likelihood that a student will drop out of their program. The majority of nations that accept international students place restrictions on the amount of hours they can work while they are in school.

Recently, Australia modified its regulations to permit students to work 48 hours every two weeks. In the US, students cannot work off campus at all unless they fulfill additional requirements. The Canadian government increased the cost of living requirement for study permits in December 2023 so that students would be better equipped financially for life in Canada and would not need to work as much.

After May 15, 2024, international students enrolled in college courses taught under a Public-Private Curriculum Licensing Arrangement will not be qualified to receive a Post-Graduation Work Permit upon graduation. If they fulfill all other requirements, those who commenced this kind of program before May 15, 2024, will continue to be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

Since its implementation on December 1, 2023, the new letter of acceptance verification process has shown to be successful. Nearly 162,000 LOAs have been submitted to the IRCC for verification as of April 1, 2024, and nearly 142,000 have been confirmed.

About 9,000 LOAs that didn’t match any LOA issued by a DLI or that the DLI had already been revoked before the foreign national applied for a study permit were found. LOAs are valid directly with approved learning institutions.

Ontario, British Columbia, and Manitoba Invite Candidates to Apply for Provincial Nomination

In the most recent round of the Provincial Nominee Program drawings, invitations have been sent to three Canadian provinces. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada and the provinces share joint responsibility for immigration. Except for Quebec and Nunavut, all Canadian provinces and territories run PNPs.

Quebec and the federal government have a separate agreement that gives Quebec complete control over who it chooses as economic immigrants. A certain number of nominations are sent to each government, which they can then distribute to candidates for economic immigration. The population and labor requirements of a province are among the many variables that determine how many nominations the IRCC accepts.

For instance, the province with the biggest population in Canada, Ontario, receives the most number of nominations. It is the goal of the IRCC to accept 10,000 new permanent residents through the PNP this year, following the immigration levels scheduled for 2024–2026.

Being invited to submit an application for permanent residence by the IRCC does not equate to receiving a nomination from a provincial government. Applications for the two distinct programs must be submitted separately.

Provincial Immigration Results (August 24-30)

Ontario

1,287 candidates for the Express Entry Skilled Trades stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) received letters of interest from Ontario on August 22. To be considered, candidates had to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 435–435. Additionally, they mandated work experience in a targeted field that had a certain National Occupation Classification code.

British Columbia

On August 27, British Columbia sent out more than 158 invitations to candidates for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) who were skilled workers and international graduates (including those who applied through Express Entry into the province). Five targeted lotteries were organized by the province to find people for particular jobs. The required minimum score was different for every draw. Included in the draw results were:

• 40 applicants with a minimum score of 83 for daycare jobs
• 31 candidates with a minimum score of 88 for construction jobs
• 18 applicants with a minimum score of 99 for healthcare jobs
• 69 applicants with a minimum score of 118 for IT jobs
• Fewer than five applicants with a minimum score of 80 for positions in veterinary care

Manitoba

On August 30, 150 candidates from two PNP streams were invited to a draw hosted by the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). 126 applicants from the International Education stream were invited by the province. There was no stated minimum score. Additionally, as part of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative, 24 candidates from the Skilled Worker Overseas stream were invited.

A minimum score of 727 was necessary for these applicants. Of all the recommendation letters sent out, twenty-one were to applicants who had an active Express Entry profile.

Final Thoughts

These new regulations on off-campus work hours and provincial nominations present significant potential for foreign students and skilled workers as Canada continues to hone its immigration and student policies. By staying up to date and capitalizing on these advancements, applicants can more effectively negotiate the routes to education and permanent residence in Canada.

Whether you are a qualified professional seeking a fresh start in one of Canada’s dynamic provinces or an international student hoping to mix job and study, these changes represent a hopeful step toward realizing your dreams in the Great White North.