New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International Students

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-- New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International Students

Posted by Search&Rescue on Apr-23-2008 00:52:

New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International Students

quote:

News Release
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.

now I know most of you don't fall into this category...but this is good news for people like myself.

Posted by barbina on Apr-23-2008 01:06:

thanks! great to know

Posted by exstasie on Apr-23-2008 01:08:

quote:
Originally posted by barbina
thanks! great to know

I guess Americans are considered international...aren't they? lol

Posted by barbina on Apr-23-2008 01:09:

uh yeah.. obviously.. you know.. since America is a different country and all.. DORK

Posted by rabbitjoker on Apr-23-2008 01:13:

Sounds like a citizenship loophole.

Posted by exstasie on Apr-23-2008 01:15:

quote:
Originally posted by barbina
uh yeah.. obviously.. you know.. since America is a different country and all.. DORK

It's hard to tell sometimes :P

Posted by FunkyCrew on Apr-23-2008 01:22:

Re: New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International Students

quote:
Originally posted by Search&Rescue
now I know most of you don't fall into this category...but this is good news for people like myself.

and myself
only 1 year too fucking late! exactly a year ago I was stuck looking for a job somewhat fitting what I've studyied
gaaaah!! why do good things always happen so late
I wonder if it will apply to people who are already working under this permit and want to extend it?

quote:
Originally posted by rabbitjoker
Sounds like a citizenship loophole.

what?
not like they're giving us a free passport right away
we're still going through the lengthy immigration process, obtaining permanent residency first

Posted by barbina on Apr-23-2008 01:24:

Re: Re: New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International Students

quote:
Originally posted by FunkyCrew
we're still going through the lengthy immigration process, obtain permanent residency first

I recommend getting married.. I think thats what Im doing this summer

Posted by FunkyCrew on Apr-23-2008 01:26:

Re: Re: Re: New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International Students

quote:
Originally posted by barbina
I recommend getting married.. I think thats what Im doing this summer

PLEASE don't get me started
I'll smack the next person who ever brings this up again
so fucking tired of hearing that! it's NOT easier

Posted by barbina on Apr-23-2008 01:28:

Re: Re: Re: Re: New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International Students

quote:
Originally posted by FunkyCrew
PLEASE don't get me started
I'll smack the next person who ever brings this up again
so fucking tired of hearing that! it's NOT easier

haha sorry.. but I'm really doing it

Posted by rabbitjoker on Apr-23-2008 01:51:

Re: Re: New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International Students

quote:
Originally posted by FunkyCrew
not like they're giving us a free passport right away
we're still going through the lengthy immigration process, obtaining permanent residency first

No, but they're letting you jump the queue on getting jobs (due to having an non-conditional work visa after education) vs. people already in the immigration system waiting to get labor approval to immigrate.

So, advice to anybody who wants to immigrate to Canada: screw the immigration process. Come as a student, overstay the education (via this new work visa), get a job and then apply for immigration. At least that way you're in Canada from the get-go rather than waiting it out in some other country.

Even a McJob would do with this setup. One heck of a loophole.

Posted by FunkyCrew on Apr-23-2008 01:59:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International Students

quote:
Originally posted by barbina
haha sorry.. but I'm really doing it

sowwie, I just got frustrated for a sec <3

Posted by barbina on Apr-23-2008 02:01:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International Students

quote:
Originally posted by FunkyCrew
sowwie, I just got frustrated for a sec <3

its okay<3
in a lot of ways its retarded
But.. it makes my tuition 3k instead of 11k a year
Free health care instead of jacked rates [since they don't accept my American insurance]
It'll be easier to establish credit, get an apartment [My roomie and I were turned away numerous times because our funding came from the US with no proof of Canadian relationships]
etc..

Posted by FunkyCrew on Apr-23-2008 02:03:

Re: Re: Re: New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International Students

quote:
Originally posted by rabbitjoker
No, but they're letting you jump the queue on getting jobs (due to having an non-conditional work visa after education) vs. people already in the immigration system waiting to get labor approval to immigrate.

So, advice to anybody who wants to immigrate to Canada: screw the immigration process. Come as a student, overstay the education (via this new work visa), get a job and then apply for immigration. At least that way you're in Canada from the get-go rather than waiting it out in some other country.

Even a McJob would do with this setup. One heck of a loophole.

the new immigration amendments which they're trying to push through now might still make it harder to obtain PR status for international students - I fear there will be a hell of a lot of rejections to applications if those changes get implemented

Posted by FunkyCrew on Apr-23-2008 02:06:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International Studen

quote:
Originally posted by barbina
its okay<3
in a lot of ways its retarded
But.. it makes my tuition 3k instead of 11k a year
Free health care instead of jacked rates [since they don't accept my American insurance]
It'll be easier to establish credit, get an apartment [My roomie and I were turned away numerous times because our funding came from the US with no proof of Canadian relationships]
etc..

yes BUT you can't work until you get approved
also - this might take longer then regular immigration or federal class immigration (what I'm going through)
OHIP yes, not sure about tuition (I know my uni will consider me as a domestic student once I get my case file number)
credit - hm, I was pre-approved for line of credit based only on my good standing with a bank
rent - you can always get a Canadian citizen as your guarantor, in my case it was my ex-bf's dad

Posted by barbina on Apr-23-2008 02:48:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Work Permit Rules for Graduating International St

quote:
Originally posted by FunkyCrew
yes BUT you can't work until you get approved
also - this might take longer then regular immigration or federal class immigration (what I'm going through)
OHIP yes, not sure about tuition (I know my uni will consider me as a domestic student once I get my case file number)
credit - hm, I was pre-approved for line of credit based only on my good standing with a bank
rent - you can always get a Canadian citizen as your guarantor, in my case it was my ex-bf's dad

I'm not really looking to work in Canada just yet since I'm still in school and this only applies to graduates no? And its hard to get a guarantor when 90% of my friends up there have known me for 3 months or less and are my age too .. haha our situations are total opposites.. so I see why marrying in wouldn't help

Posted by FunkyCrew on Apr-23-2008 03:12:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New Work Permit Rules for Graduating Internationa

quote:
Originally posted by barbina
I'm not really looking to work in Canada just yet since I'm still in school and this only applies to graduates no? And its hard to get a guarantor when 90% of my friends up there have known me for 3 months or less and are my age too .. haha our situations are total opposites.. so I see why marrying in wouldn't help

well in that case, best of luck
I'm only surprised why things aren't easier for our neighbors, i.e. Americans

Posted by Joe Drust on Apr-23-2008 16:23:

Moving to Canada certainly is not easy, even if you are sponsored by a large company for a senior position. (Which I am) My application was under the inter company transfer category, and it was not a short process. However, it did work, so Canada (and Oakville) here I come!

Posted by jsibilin on Apr-23-2008 17:28:

quote:
Originally posted by Joe Drust
Moving to Canada certainly is not easy, even if you are sponsored by a large company for a senior position. (Which I am) My application was under the inter company transfer category, and it was not a short process. However, it did work, so Canada (and Oakville) here I come!

u live in Oakville? finally someone that is close to me.. PM me if ya wanna hang sometime.. only thing i like to do in Oakville is go 4x4 @ ford hill