Ottawa Relaxing Work Permit Rules for International Students

Earlier in March, the Canadian Government had laid restrictions on entering the country as a protective measure to avoid the growth of the deadly coronavirus. Keeping in mind the need of the students in the present pandemic scenario, the government has decided to loosen the rules related to post-graduate work eligibility for foreign students. The steps are taken as a constant effort to deal with the coronavirus disaster, which is faced by all the countries of the world. Now the students can start their course from abroad online itself, without traveling.

The news release on August 26 states that to bring about greater flexibility in the eligibility rules, three major changes have been made for international post-graduate students who apply for a work permit. All the measures are taken keeping in view the need for those who are interested in starting their studies from abroad.

The changes related to Ottawa Relaxing Work Permit Rules for International Students

• Firstly, all the foreign students can do their online studies till 30th April 2021, and that will not remove any time from their prospective post-graduation related work permit. But this comes with a condition that fifty percent of the study program should get concluded in Canada only.
  
• Secondly, those who have applied for the program in the middle of May 2020 and September 2020, and get enrolled for a program of eight to twelve months in duration, can finish the whole course from overseas, online itself, they will still remain eligible for the work permit.

• Thirdly, scholars who get graduated for more than one eligible program, those who got registered for a course beginning during the above mentioned months, and doing online study till April 2021, can integrate the duration of the program while applying for a future work sanction. But again provided that fifty percent of their studies are concluded in Canada.

It is mandatory to submit the permission of the study application before initiating the study program during the spring, summertime, or autumn of the current year, to be eligible for the measures taken. Even for the semester due in January 2021, students must provide the necessary permission documents. And that all such students must be approved for such a study permit.

The release clearly states that all the relaxation of pandemic related restrictions will solely depend on how much the country and the world has progressed as a whole and is successful in stopping the outspread of the virus. And that the concerned departments for immigration, migration, and citizenship will keep a track of the current situation continuously. Only they can take decisions whether any further amendments are called for.

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Diksha Garg

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