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IMMIGRATION NEWS - PAGE V
Government of Canada introduces changes to work permits for international
students, making Canada more attractive for skilled individuals
Vancouver, April 21, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley,
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced changes to work
permits for international students who graduate from eligible programs at
certain Canadian post-secondary institutions, making it easier to attract
foreign students to Canada.
Effective immediately, and for the first time, these international students
would be able to obtain an open work permit under the Post-Graduation Work
Permit Program, with no restrictions on the type of employment and no
requirement for a job offer. In addition, the duration of the work permit has
been extended to three years across the country. Previously, the program only
allowed international students to work for one or two years, depending on
location.
“The Government of Canada wants more foreign students to choose Canada and we
want to help them succeed,” said Minister Finley. “Open and longer work
permits provide international students with more opportunities for Canadian
work experience and skills development. This will, in turn, help make Canada a
destination of choice, and help us keep international students already
studying in Canada.”
The increased flexibility offered by the expanded program will benefit
graduates and employers alike as the program will help international students
get important work experience while responding to Canada’s labour market
needs. Canada will benefit in the long run as the professional experience
gained will help graduates meet the requirements to stay permanently in
Canada.
“As we move toward the implementation of the Canadian Experience Class, these
changes will help create a pool of individuals who, with work experience, will
find it easier to apply to immigrate to Canada,” added Minister Finley. “Our
ability to retain international graduates with Canadian qualifications, work
experience and familiarity with Canadian society, will help increase our
competitiveness and benefit Canada as a whole.”
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows students who have graduated
from an eligible program at a post-secondary institution to gain valuable
Canadian work experience. Preliminary 2007 data indicate that 63,673
international students came to Canada that year, representing a 4.6 percent
increase over the previous year.
Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows most international students who
have graduated from an eligible program at a post-secondary institution to
gain valuable Canadian work experience. A minimum of one year of work
experience in managerial, professional or technical positions (i.e., at level
0, A or B under the National Occupational Classification system) will be
necessary to apply to stay permanently through the Canadian Experience Class.
The changes to the program include extending the duration of the work permit
to three years across the country for those whose program of study is at least
two years (previously, permits could be granted for only one or two years,
depending on location); providing the flexibility for new graduates to work in
any field and not just their field of study; and removing the requirement to
have a job offer.
To be eligible for the program, international students:
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Must have studied full-time for the eight months preceding the completion of
their program of studies and have graduated from:
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a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, university or
CEGEP (in Quebec); or
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a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules
and regulations as public institutions, and that receives at least
50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government
grants (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in
Quebec qualify); or
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a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial or territorial
statute to confer degrees.
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Must apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written
confirmation (for example, a transcript or an official letter) from the
institution that they have met the requirements of the academic program.
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Must have completed and passed the program of study and received a
notification that they are eligible to obtain their degree, diploma or
certificate.
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Must have a valid study permit when they apply for the work permit.
Note that if the student’s program of study is less than two years but at
least eight months, the student would be eligible for a post-graduate work
permit. However, the validity period of the work permit must not be longer
than the period of study of the graduate at the particular post-secondary
institution in Canada.
International students not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work
Permit Program include the following:
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Students participating in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program or a
Government of Canada Awards Program funded by the Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade.
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Students receiving funding from the Canadian International Development
Agency and participating in a distance learning program.
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Students who have previously been issued a post-graduation work permit after
any other program of study. However, note that graduates who are already
working with a work permit issued under the previous rules are eligible to
apply for an extension.
http://www.cic.gc.ca |
