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Will the changes to immigration policies be good or bad for international students?
Immigration Minister Marc Miller unveiled plans for alterations to study permit applications and reforms for international students in Canada on December 7. Among the changes discussed were the elevation of the cost-of-living requirement for study permit applications, an extension of the 20-hour-per-week off-campus work limit, and insights into the Post-Graduation Work Permit—PGWP Extension 2024 policy.
What are the updates?
Effective January 1, 2024, prospective students seeking a study permit for the year must showcase a financial possession of $20,635 in addition to covering their initial tuition and travel costs. This adjustment applies to all fresh study permit applications received on or after the specified date.
Additionally, Minister Miller has provided updates on three temporary policies initially set to conclude by the end of 2023:
1. International students residing in Canada and those who submitted a study permit application by December 7, 2023, can engage in off-campus work exceeding 20 hours per week until April 30, 2024.
2. The provision allowing international students to include online study time in calculating their post-graduation work permit’s duration, as long as it constitutes less than 50% of the program, remains valid for students starting their study program before September 1, 2024.
3. Although a temporary policy was enacted thrice to extend an additional 18-month work permit to post-graduation work permit holders whose initial permit was expiring, this policy won’t be prolonged beyond its current eligibility period. Foreign nationals with a post-graduation work permit expiring up to December 31, 2023, can still apply under the existing policy.
The positives coming from these changes:
Let’s look at some of the positive outcomes of these changes:
Extended Full-Time Work Opportunities – Minister Miller declared an extension to the policy, granting international students the ability to work beyond the 20-hour limit until April 30, 2024.
International students presently residing in Canada and those who submitted their study permit applications by December 7, 2023, are now permitted to partake in off-campus employment exceeding the standard 20 hours per week until April 30, 2024.
Moreover, he emphasized that the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) will persist in exploring potential improvements to this policy. One consideration under review is the possibility of allowing international students to engage in off-campus work for up to 30 hours per week during regular class sessions. This initiative aims to establish more favorable conditions for international students in Canada.
- Distance Learning to be continued – The policy of Distance Learning is set to be prolonged, ensuring that international students can still incorporate online study hours when determining the duration of their post-graduation work permit. This provision remains applicable, allowing students to include virtual learning experiences in their calculations, as long as it constitutes less than 50% of their overall program. Importantly, this extended policy is specifically targeted at students initiating their study programs prior to September 1, 2024. The decision to continue this flexibility aims to accommodate the evolving landscape of education, acknowledging the significance of remote learning while maintaining the integrity of post-graduation work permit regulations.
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The possible disadvantages of these changes:
While these changes are bringing in positive effects, there are also some negative outcomes that could affect international students. Let’s take a look at those:
- GIC increase due to cost of living – Minister Miller has announced a significant increase in the financial requirement for study permit applicants, with the objective of ensuring that international students are adequately financially prepared for their life in Canada. Previously, applicants for a Canada study permit were required to demonstrate a cost of living guarantee through a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000. However, starting from January, this amount will be doubled. Minister Miller has clarified that this financial threshold will be subject to annual adjustments in accordance with Statistics Canada’s revisions to the low-income cut-off (LICO). The LICO represents the minimum income deemed necessary to prevent individuals from allocating an unusually high proportion of their earnings towards essential needs. This decision reflects a commitment to align the financial prerequisites for study permit applicants with evolving economic indicators, ensuring that international students have sufficient resources to meet the challenges of life in Canada.
- PGWP extensions – Minister Miller underscored a pivotal point by emphasizing that the existing temporary policy governing the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) will not undergo an extension, thereby signaling the absence of a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) extension policy in 2024. This development clarifies the current trajectory of the PGWP framework, indicating a shift away from the temporary extension policies previously implemented. It underscores the government’s commitment to review and update immigration policies that align with the evolving needs of both the domestic workforce and international students. However, it’s important to note that there remains a window of opportunity for individuals hailing from foreign countries with a post-graduation employment permit set to expire before December 31, 2023. Such individuals still have the option to pursue an extension under the existing PGWP Extension 2023 policy. This temporary extension pathway acknowledges the unique circumstances faced by post-graduation work permit holders. It offers a viable solution for those seeking to extend their work authorization within the current policy framework.
What will the immigration numbers look like?
Minister Miller said that schools should only accept as many students as they can really help, including finding them a place to live. He stressed the importance of making sure international students get the support they need when they come to Canada.
He also talked about being ready to take steps, like limiting visas, before the semester in September 2024. This ensures that schools are fully ready to help students on their academic journey.
According to the new Levels Plan, in 2024, Canada plans to welcome 485,000 new immigrants as permanent residents, getting closer to the goal of 500,000 in 2025. After that, in 2026, the government will keep the number of new permanent residents at 500,000, giving enough time for everyone to settle in well.
If you need any assistance with your study permit application or have any questions, you can contact our Immigration Consultant in Brampton at +1 289 298 1000 or Book Free Consultation on our website canozvisas.com
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Bakhash Deep Singh
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Migration Agent
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He provides comprehensive and personalized services to his clients. He has handled many complex cases for Australian Immigration for his clients and has a very high success rate. He is known for his analytical and strategic approach. He is Originally from India, he has a good command over English, Hindi and Punjabi language.
Canadian Immigration
Australian Immigration
Do you want
to Study or Immigrate to
Canada or Australia?
We are Canoz Visa Services and our team is committed to provide the highest standards of client service in a friendly environment.
