BC Post-Graduation Work Permit COVID-19 alert! Helen Han provides the lates Vancouver, BC and Calgary immigration law update related to international students BC Post-Graduation Work Permit COVID-19 issues.
International Students may be eligible to receive a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after graduating from a post-secondary program in Canada. This is an Open Work Permit that allows the graduates to remain in Canada and work full-time for up to three years. This type of work permit is only issued once in a lifetime. However, we have seen some international students making some mistakes in their PGWP applications and got refused, which meant they have potentially wasted their years of study in Canada and may have lost their only chance to work and possibly immigrate to Canada. Therefore, you should be very careful about preparing a BC Post-Graduation Work Permit PGWP application. In today’s blog, Helen Han from MacLean Law will discuss some tips about applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit. This blog is also a timely BC Post-Graduation Work Permit COVID-19 update. Click here to meet with one of our immigration lawyers.
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- Distance learning
Generally speaking, if distance learning makes up less than 50% of your study program, you may be eligible for a BC Post-Graduation Work Permit PGWP. Any distance courses completed outside Canada won’t be included in the length of the PGWP.
If distance-learning makes up more than 50% of your study program, you aren’t eligible for a PGWP.
EXCEPTION: IRCC has announced on Twitter that International Students in Canada, courses of study being delivered online on an exceptional basis due to COVID-19 will not affect Post-Graduation Work Permit Program eligibility or a post-graduation work permit.
- Make sure your passport is valid for the entire time which your PGWP will be valid
The work permit will not be issued longer than the expiry date of your passport. For example, if you are qualified for a 3-year work permit, and your passport will expire in 2 years, the IRCC will only issue a 2-year work permit that matches the validity of your passport. You may apply to extend your PGWP later once you have renewed your passport. However, you should be very careful while preparing the documents otherwise you may be refused for the extension. To summarize, remember to renew your passport if necessary before applying for PGWP.
- Maintain your full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program
You need to maintain your full-time status as a student throughout every semester of your studies, which does not include your final semester before graduation. If you are taking a leave of absence from your studies, you need to get an authorization for your leave for up to 150 days from your educational institution. Otherwise, you may not be eligible for a PGWP once you graduate.
IMPORTANT: You cannot work during your authorized leave from your study program, even if your study permit indicates that you are allowed to work.
- Not every period of post-secondary study will convert into the eligibility for a post-graduation work permit.
To be eligible for a PGWP, you need to complete a post-secondary program from a Designated Learning Institution which should be at least 8 months in length; the length of your work permit depends on the length of your program. Students graduated from a non-DLI are not eligible for the PGWP. What is interesting is if you have transferred from a non-DLI to a DLI, are you still eligible for a PGWP upon graduating from the DLI? The answer is yes, with a caveat where only the time spent studying at the DLI will be counted into the work permit. For instance, a student completed a one-year diploma program where 5 months were spent at a non-DLI, and the rest 7 months were completed at a DLI. In this scenario, the total study period at the DLI is 7 months, which is less than the minimum requirement of 8 months, which means this student is not eligible for the PGWP.
- Avoid sending any screenshots when applying PGWP.
Make sure to submit all your official documents online or in hardcopy, and do not submit any screenshots. We have seen many impatient students who could not wait for their official transcripts to be issued and simply uploaded screenshots of their unofficial transcripts to the IRCC which caused their PGWP applications to be refused. You need to treat your application seriously as you only have one shot to receive your BC Post-Graduation Work Permit PGWP.
BC Post-Graduation Work Permit COVID-19 Immigration Lawyers 1 877 602 9900
The above-mentioned points are some tips for international students when submitting the PGWP application. You should not underestimate the complexity of the application since if you receive a refusal, you may lose the only chance to receive the BC Post-Graduation Work Permit PGWP.
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After you successfully applied for your PGWP and started working, you may apply for Canadian permanent residence later if you are eligible for a certain stream or category. Therefore, we strongly suggest being careful about working in a place or occupation that is beneficial for your upcoming PR application. We have seen many recent graduates and PGWP holders who have been working in a job position for several years, only to find out that their work experience does not make them eligible for Canadian permanent residence. Therefore, planning is necessary to ensure the success of your PR application, and finding an experienced lawyer or licensed immigration consultant for advice is important in saving your time and making sure you are on the right track. Should you have any BC Post-Graduation Work Permit PGWP related questions, would like to plan your immigration pathway, or have any concerns about your application, please contact MacLean Law’s immigration team at 1-877-602-9900 and our immigration team will resolve matters for your professionally.
