The Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, has declared that the IRCC will not extend the measure concerning off-campus work hours for international students.
IRCC announced that, starting in October 2022, international students with study permits allowing off-campus work could work more than the usual 20 hours per week while classes were in session.
However, from the autumn semester of this year, international students in Canada will be restricted to a maximum of 24 hours per week during class sessions. This comes as a surprise since, in December of last year, the IRCC stated that it would “continue to explore options for this policy in the future,” potentially allowing foreign students to work up to 30 hours per week while classes are in session.
According to the Minister’s statement today, pupils’ academic performance would probably suffer if they worked thirty hours a week throughout the school year.
Restricting overseas students’ off-campus work hours, he added, would help discourage individuals who might be applying for study permits primarily with the intention of working in Canada.
Additionally, he clarified that the 24-hour limit ought to be adequate given the new financial criteria for overseas students that were declared in December of last year.
In addition to being able to pay for their tuition, applicants for study permits who want to study in Canada must show that they have at least $20,635 saved up.
While on academic leave, foreign students who are already in Canada are able to work an infinite number of hours. Summer course participants, however, are now required to adhere to the 20-hour workweek cap for off-campus employment.
Additional adjustments for international students
This is the most recent in a line of changes to Canada’s policy for foreign students. The IRCC says these modifications are meant to improve the integrity of the system.
A new step added to the process of getting a study permit is one example. A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) from the province housing their designated learning institution (DLI) is now required of students. This action is a component of a total cap on the quantity of study permits the IRCC will handle by the year 2024.
Additionally, the department is putting into practice the Trusted Institutions Framework for DLIs in Canada, which recognizes organizations with a solid track record of supporting international students.
Can International Students Work in Canada? Understanding Eligibility Requirements
If an international student want to work off campus during the academic year, they need to fulfill specific requirements, such as:
- Valid possession of a study permit
- Enrollment in full-time studies at a designated learning institution (DLI)
- Commencement of studies at the DLI with maintenance of satisfactory academic standing
- Participation in an academic, vocational, or professional training program lasting a minimum of six months, resulting in a degree, diploma, or certificate
- Possession of a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
As long as they are registered to return to full-time studies the following semester, students are free to work as many hours as they choose during the academic vacation.
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