Unveiling Canada’s Student Program Updates: Addressing Concerns and Exploring Key Changes
Hey everyone! I’ve been flooded with comments and emails about the recent changes in the international student program, and I can sense that some of you are feeling a bit upset about it. Just to clear things up, the Canadian government isn’t trying to limit the number of prospective students coming in – they’re actually working to regulate the process and protect future students from falling prey to fake agencies.
In my last post, I talked about the significant change in increasing work hours for international students. Now, let’s dive into a couple more key areas addressed in the December 7th announcement.
The second important point is about the rule that allows international students to include online study time in their post-graduation work permit eligibility, as long as it’s less than half of their program. This will still apply for those starting before September 1, 2024, but if you’re kicking off your program on or after that date, this rule won’t be in play. Originally introduced in 2020 due to pandemic-related restrictions, these online learning measures were scaled back in September 2022. Right now, most international students are attending classes in person in Canada.
The third point addresses disruptions in the job market caused by the pandemic. There was a temporary rule created three times, allowing post-graduation work permit holders to get an extra 18-month work permit when their first one was ending. If your permit ends by December 31, 2023, you can still apply under this rule, but remember, it won’t continue after that date.
Oh, and there’s one more critical element in the December 7th announcement about the low-income cut-off (LICO). Stay tuned for my next post where I’ll dive deeper into that.
Keep the feedback coming, and if you’ve got questions about the student visa process, hit me up. I’ll do my best to help out or point you to the right official links. Let’s keep this conversation rolling!
