August 04, 2022

Canadian Government Announces Work Permit Extension for Former International Students

F Former international students whose work permits are about to expire will be given the chance to continue working in Canada for an additional 18 months, according to the Canadian government. Additionally, those who are still in Canada will be able to work while they wait for their permit to be extended as part of the change. The announcement comes after a related notification earlier in the year that recent international graduates would be given the opportunity to stay and work in Canada for longer to address labour shortages in Canada.

Speaking about the extension, Philipp Reichert, a director at the University of British Columbia, told the press, "This is a very positive development for many former international students who have studied in Canada and received their permit, but through the circumstances of the pandemic and other delays may not have been able to fully utilise their work authorization."

He continued, "While many students are already interested in staying and settling in Canada, there are frequent difficulties related to the limited timeline, so this temporary extension for specific holders is helpful for many students who like to continue to advance their careers."

…for many former international students who have studied in Canada and received their permit, but through the circumstances of the pandemic and other delays may not have been able to fully utilise their work authorisation…

According to official sources, the criteria for the extension of permits vary depending on the circumstances, the date the permit has expired or will expire, and other factors. As part of the special measures, those who also need to restore any expired temporary status will be able to apply to do so concurrently. If the permit has already expired or expires before October, they must apply online at the IRCC for the permit starting on August 2.

As per the announcement, international students whose permits are set to expire between October 2 and December 31 of this year and who have passports that are still valid for at least another two years won't need to do anything; the updated permit will be automatically renewed and sent to them. Good news has also been announced for those who have left Canada. According to government sources, these students will also be able to apply for the permit and status restoration, and return once it has been approved.

While the government is confident that the move will be beneficial to both Canada and international students, Garcia-Sitton, of the Toronto Metropolitan University, warned that the move to extend permits is not the overall solution. She added, "The issue is multidimensional—once international students complete their studies and are ideally positioned to fill many of the gaps in our labour market, they face more discrimination and vulnerabilities to financial hardships and isolation than most Canadian students."

Posted in News and tagged News, Canada, Canadian Government, Work Permit, International Students, University of British Columbia
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