December 11th, 2023 at 04:35 am
Canada Off-Campus Work Hours Extension Policy for International Students – April 2024
The government of Canada has chosen to prolong the off-campus work hour legislation until April 2024, which is a welcome step for international students studying there. This choice will have a big impact on students studying in the nation since it will provide them with more chances to complete their coursework and obtain useful work experience.
Come explore the specifics of this policy expansion and its possible effects on the community of international students.
Outside of designated academic holidays, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has stated that it will be extending a program that permits some international students to work more than the standard 20 hours per week limit on off-campus employment. Canada’s immigration administration introduced a temporary regulation in 2022 that permitted selected international students to seek full-time, 40-hour work weeks off-campus in response to the country’s mounting labor shortages.
This interim policy was supposed to end on December 31, 2023, having been put into effect on November 15, 2022, before the most recent statement. Nevertheless, this temporary policy has been extended till April 30, 2024, as per the recent declaration.
Note before this new policy took effect in late 2022
International students have always been permitted to work full-time under the IRCC’s present policy, which only permits them to work off-campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week during the school year, during planned academic breaks, reading week, winter break, etc. This implies that until December 7, 2023, international students who are currently in Canada and those who have already applied for a study permit will be permitted to work off-campus for more than 20 hours per week, as stated in the most recent announcement.
What does this mean for Eligible International Students across Canada?
Even though the IRCC’s decision does not make the policy permanent as many international students had hoped, many international students in Canada will still find it useful. This is because being able to work longer hours relieves international students of the financial load.
Eligibility for IRCC’s Work Hours Policy
Only a select group of international students are permitted to work more than 20 hours a week, which is the typical cap on off-campus employment. A foreign pupil needs to
- Attend their Canadian postsecondary institution in person (not virtually from outside)
- Also, possess a study permit with authority to work off campus. The elimination of the cap on off-campus employment hours has also been advantageous to students who filed a study visa application by October 7, 2022, the day the IRCC first announced this temporary policy.
Is IRCC considering any additional measures along these lines?
In the latest statement, the IRCC also stated that the immigration department will keep looking at potential future directions for this policy. Although the IRCC hasn’t taken any concrete action as of yet, the crucial statement did specifically mention that the organization might raise the maximum amount of time that overseas students can work off-campus during class hours to 30 hours per week.
This would be another departure from the customary restrictions placed on off-campus employment for foreign students. Currently, foreign nationals studying in Canada are only permitted to work off-campus for up to 20 hours a week while enrolled in classes.
The country’s dedication to promoting a friendly and inclusive environment is demonstrated by the extension of off-campus work hours until April 2024, which reflects Canada’s continued emphasis on the well-being and professional development of its international student community.
This strategy helps international students integrate more fully into the Canadian workforce generally and improves their educational experience. Looking ahead, this extension has the potential to significantly influence the paths and goals of a great number of students who have selected Canada as their study destination.
Extended Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
The expansion of the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) to a maximum of five years is the second significant move that has been eagerly anticipated and well received. As of right now, the length of your study program directly affects how long your PGWP will last. For example, you would get a one-year work visa if you finished a one-year course. In the same way, your work visa would be valid for two years if you completed a two-year program, and so forth.
A petition calling for an extension of the PGWP’s lifespan is currently making the rounds in Canada with the support of several people. The plan is to provide students who finish shorter programs—like a year—a 2-year PGWP and to gradually extend it as long as their study program lasts.
Minister Matt Miller has responded to our petition by acknowledging that the government is giving the idea serious thought. A pool of qualified jobs will probably be created as a result of this consideration. You can be eligible for a PGWP of up to five years if your studies are in a field related to these careers. This adjustment attempts to address shortages in particular industries and match the demands of Canada’s labor market.
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