IRCC Extends Work Relief Measures For International Students: International students in Canada can now benefit from an extension of a popular COVID-19 relief measure.
It allows them to work in Canada after graduation, even if they have completed their studies in any other country.
The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended the distance learning measures initially implemented to support international students during the pandemic.
This extension is significant for students who want to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
With the new guidelines, international students who have completed less than 50% of their PGWP-eligible studies outside of Canada can still apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) until December 31, 2023.
Before the pandemic, international students had to ensure that not more than half of their studies were completed online.
Studying online outside Canada didn’t count towards their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility.
However, due to the pandemic’s travel restrictions, IRCC has temporarily removed the online study restrictions for specific students. These students fall into two categories:
- Students who were already registered in PGWP-eligible programs in progress in March 2020.
- Those who start their PGWP-eligible programs between March 2020 and August 31, 2022.
Studying online outside of Canada before 31 August 2022 for students falling in these categories can be considered 100% for PGWP.
However, for students who started their studies between 1 September 2022 and 31 December 2023, only half of their study time can be considered for PGWP eligibility.
Students who begin their studies before September 1, 2023, will be subject to these measures even if they study abroad. Program enrollment after August 31, 2022, is not included in these rules.
This extension aims to assist international students who have experienced difficulties due to the pandemic, enabling them to satisfy PGWP requirements.
However, impacted students must familiarize themselves with the timelines and eligibility criteria IRCC sets to maximize this opportunity’s benefits.
Students must complete one of the following requirements to be eligible for these temporary policy changes to the PGWP program.
- Have a study permit
- Have been approved for a study permit
- Have submitted a study visa application before starting their program that was eventually approved
When students study at a designated learning institution (DLI) outside of Canada, their studying time will only count towards the length of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) once the department receives their study visa application.
Any time spent studying before that should not be included in the calculation of the PGWP length.
The PGWP has a minimum duration of 8 months. If students complete only seven months of studies after receiving their study permit application, they will not be qualified for a PGWP.
So, it is all about IRCC extends work relief measures for international students
For more information, keep visiting CourseMentor
Source:- immigrationnewscanada.ca
