Options for foreign students in Canada-Work permit and Immigration

After study visa -WP & Immigration
Working while studying
R186(f) allows fulltime postsecondary students to work without a work permit on the campus of the
university or college at which they are a full time student. This authorization is valid for the period for which they
hold a study permit at the institution and during which they are enrolled in fulltime studies.
You may work on campus at the institution where you study without a work permit if:
● you are a fulltime student at:
○ a public postsecondary institution, such as a college or university, or a collège d’enseignement
général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec
○ a private postsecondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a
public institution, and receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from
government grants (currently only private collegelevel educational institutions in Quebec qualify)
or
○ a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees and
● you have a valid study permit
Definition of “oncampus”
“Oncampus” is defined as employment facilities within the boundaries of the campus. The students are only
allowed to work on the campus of the educational institution at which they are registered. If an institution has
more than one campus, the student can work at different locations on those campuses provided they are within the
same municipality. If an institution has campuses in different cities, the student is restricted to working on the
institution’s campus where they are registered as a fulltime student There will be cases of students working on
campus as teaching or research assistants. In certain circumstances, the work to be performed will require the
student to be located at a library, hospital, or research facility affiliated with the institution but located outside the
physical boundaries of the institution’s campus. This is allowable provided that the work being conducted is
strictly related to the student’s research grant. The employer can be the institution, faculty, student organization,
the students themselves (self employment), private business, or private contractor providing services to the
institution on the campus. Some universities and colleges located in city centres have campus grounds widely
dispersed among general populated areas. This policy includes such employers, whose businesses serve the
general consuming public, as long as the place of business is technically located on the institution's campus.
Questions ? Please call Amarjot Singh 780-707-4831 www.immigrationteacher.org

Working off campus
The OffCampus Work Permit Program allows certain foreign students to work off campus while completing
their studies. To qualify, you must be a fulltime student enrolled at a participating publicly funded
postsecondary educational institution (after six months of full time study) or in an approved program at an
eligible privately funded institution.
Participating publicly funded postsecondary educational institutions:
● are public postsecondary institutions, such as a college or university or a collège d’enseignement
général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec or
● are private postsecondary institutions that operate under the same rules and regulations as public
institutions, and receive at least 50 percent of their financing for their overall operations from government
grants (currently only private collegelevel educational institutions in Quebec qualify) and
● have signed an offcampus work agreement with their provincial or territorial government.
Eligible privately funded postsecondary institutions:
● are located in a province or territory that has signed a memorandum of understanding with CIC
● have signed an offcampus work agreement with their provincial or territorial government and
● have approval from their provincial or territorial government to grant specific degrees.
The work permit authorizes you to work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions,  and full
time during scheduled breaks (for example, winter and summer holidays,  and spring break). These permits
are issued for the duration of study permits plus 90 days. Students who have completed their academic
program requirements and who are within the 90day transition period will still be considered eligible to work
offcampus, provided that they hold a valid study permit and a valid offcampus work permit. These students
can work fulltime.
If you are no longer a fulltime student  or do not maintain satisfactory academic results, you must return your
work permit to a local Citizenship and Immigration Canada office.
Not eligible to apply for an OffCampus Work Permit if you are:
● participating in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by Canada’s Department of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
● participating in a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by DFAIT
● receiving funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

● participating in the Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program, CanadaChile
● participating in the CanadaChina Scholars Exchanges Program
● participating in the Organization of American States Fellowships Program
● attending a participating institution and registered in either an ESL or FSL or
● a visiting or exchange student.
● a student who has had a previous off campus work permit in the past.
Maintaining eligibility for Off campus work permit
To keep your work permit, you must remain a fulltime student at a participating  institution and continue to
obtain satisfactory academic results. If you  are no longer a fulltime student, if you move to a nonparticipating
institution, or if you do not maintain satisfactory academic results, you  must return your work permit
immediately to a local CIC office.
It is illegal for you to work in Canada with an invalid work permit. The  work permit will be invalid if you do not
meet the eligibility requirements  of the OffCampus Work Permit Program.
If you return your work permit to a local CIC office because you have become ineligible for the program for any
of the reasons mentioned above, you may  reapply to the program at a later date if you become eligible again.If
you do not return your work permit to a local CIC office, you  will be found to be noncompliant. This could have
a negative impact on  your current stay in Canada, and any applications you make to come to Canada in the
future.
Although there are no legal restrictions preventing students from working 20 hours per week on campus and 20
hours per week off campus, students are discouraged from working more than a maximum of 20 hours per
week. They are also be reminded that they must be in fulltime studies and maintain satisfactory academic
standing in order to remain eligible for the Program.
Starting a new program or level of study after completing a first program  ?
If a student begins a new program or level of study within four months of completing a previous
program they do not have to wait an additional six months to apply for an OffCampus Work
Permit. They may apply for the Off Campus WP at the start of their second program and count their full
time studies from the preceding program towards their application to work offcampus. For
example, if a student completes a bachelor’s degree in April and starts a master’s degree in
September, they are eligible to apply for a permit as soon as they begin the master’s program as
long as no more than four months have passed.
Transition from offcampus work permits to postgraduation work permits
Students can apply for a postgraduation work permit—a onetime opportunity—during the 90
day transition period on completion of their academic program if they fulfil all of the requirements

for the PG WP. Since the validity period of an offcampus work permit is usually the same as the
student's study period (the duration of the academic program plus 90 days), they do not have to
surrender their offcampus work permit to apply. They can continue to work under the offcampus
work permit provided that they hold both a valid study permit and a valid offcampus work permit.
Employment during this transition period can be fulltime.
Work as a co–op student or intern
For some academic programs, work experience is part of the curriculum. Foreign students who wish to
participate in a coop or internship program must apply for a work permit as well as a study permit.
Determine your eligibility
To be eligible for a work permit, you must meet the following conditions:
● You must have a valid study permit.
● Your intended employment must be an essential part of your program of study in Canada.
● Your employment must be part of your academic program, certified by a letter from a responsible
academic official of the institution.
● Your coop or internship employment cannot form more than 50% (percent) of the total program of
study.
Postgraduation work permit PGWPP
The PGWPP allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian postsecondary institution to
gain valuable Canadian work experience. Skilled Canadian work experience gained through the PGWPP helps
graduates qualify for permanent residence in Canada through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
A work permit under the PGWPP may be issued for the length of the study program, up to a maximum of three
years. A postgraduation work permit cannot be valid for longer than the student’s study program, and the study
program must be a minimum of eight months in length. For example, if you graduate from a fouryear
degree program, you could be eligible for a threeyear work permit if you meet the criteria. If you
graduate from an eightmonth certificate program, you would be eligible for a work permit that is valid for no
more than eight months.

Determine your eligibility for— PGWPP
To obtain a work permit after your graduation, you must meet the following requirements:
● You must have studied full time in Canada and you must have completed  a program of study that
lasted at least eight months.
● In addition, you must have graduated from:
○ a public postsecondary institution, such as a college, trade/technical school, university or
CEGEP (in Quebec), or
○ a private postsecondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as
public institutions, or
○ a private secondary or postsecondary institution (in Quebec) offering qualifying programs of 900
hours or longer leading to a diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de
spécialisation professionnelle (ASP), or
○ a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees but only if you
are enrolled in one of the programs of study leading to a degree as authorized by the
province and not in all programs of study offered by the private institution.
● You must apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation (for example, a
transcript or an official letter) from your institution indicating that you have met the requirements for
completing your  academic program.
● You must have completed and passed the program of study and received  a notification that you are
eligible to obtain your degree, diploma  or certificate.
● You must have a valid study permit when you apply for the work permit.
NOTE: If you have graduated from a vocational or professional training program at a public or private secondary
institution in Quebec, regulated by the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (MELS), you may be
eligible to apply for a PostGraduation Work Permit. In addition, applicants must:
● Be 18 years of age or older at the time of application
● Have a valid study permit when you apply for the work permit
● Have completed a full time program that lasted 900 hours or more (normally eight months in
length), leading to a Diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP) or an Attestation de spécialisation
professionnelle (ASP)
● Apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation (for example, a transcript
or an official letter) from your institution indicating that you have met the requirements for
completing your academic program
● Provide a supporting letter from your institution outlining the duration of studies and the program
code
Impact of length of program of study in Canada and the length of the work permit
A PostGraduation Work Permit cannot be valid longer than the official length of your program of study in

Canada. For example, students graduating from a fouryear degree program might be eligible for a threeyear
year work permit. Students graduating from an eightmonth certificate program would only be eligible for a work
permit of eight months.
If the official length of your program of study is:
● less than eight months
○ you are not eligible for this program
● less than two years but more than eight months
○ you may get a work permit for a period no longer than the length of your program of study (for
example, if you studied for nine months, a work permit may be issued for a period of nine
months)
● two years or more
○ a work permit may be issued for three years
You are not eligible for the PostGraduation Work Permit Program if you:
● study in a program that is less than eight months long
● participate in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by the Department of Foreign
Affairs and International Trade  (DFAIT)
● participate in a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by  DFAIT
● receive funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
● participate in the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, CanadaChile
● participate in the CanadaChina Scholars Exchanges Program
● participate in the Organization of American States Fellowships Program
● participate in a distance learning program either from abroad or from within Canada or
● have previously been issued a PostGraduation Work Permit following  any other program of study.
Special cases of PG WP and Students of Flight Training
In cases where a student has transferred between educational institutions, the student must have
graduated from an institution described in the eligibility criteria above, and the combined time in
institutions meeting these criteria must be at least eight months.
Flight instructors who meet either of the following criteria may be issued work permits under the C43 provision:
• The applicant has completed a flighttraining course at a Canadian training centre and has
obtained a Canadian commercial pilot’s licence;
• The applicant has obtained, or is in the process of obtaining, an instructor’s rating and has
received an offer of employment as a flight instructor from a flight training centre.
Note: This should not be the same school at which the applicant is trained.

Applicants providing either of the above documents may be issued an open work permit, valid for
three years, if the flighttraining course was at least two years, or valid for the length of their flight
training studies in Canada, if between eight months and two years. Flight training under eight
months does not qualify a student for the work permit Any subsequent work permit request or
application for extension must be supported by an HRSDC confirmation.
.
Your spouse/commonlaw partner can work while you study !
Your spouse or commonlaw partner may apply for a work permit if:
● you are a fulltime student at:
○ a public postsecondary institution, such as a college or university or collège d’enseignement
général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec
○ a private postsecondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a
public institution, and receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from
government grants (currently, only private collegelevel educational institutions in Quebec qualify)
or
○ a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees
● you have a valid study permit
Validity
Work permits for your spouse or commonlaw partner are valid for the same period of time as your study
permit.
NAFTA Occupations
US and Mexican citizens can apply for work permit without LMO, within Canada if they receive a job offer under
the NAFTA 60 professional occupations
Student in good standing
CIC wants you to be a student in good standing in order for them to issue you these work permits.In order to be
considered a student in good standing for CIC purposes, a foreign national must be registered in studies at
an educational institution in Canada and be considered “in good standing” by that institution’s criteria, and
demonstrate progress in their program of study.

Each institution has its own definition of "good standing" which may include the following determinants: tuition
paid, student enrolled, student passing classes with satisfactory results for the institution (this may be a pass
mark, but some programs require a higher level of achievement) or, student attending classes (although this is
not a requirement in many postsecondary institutions). Most institutions consider it a standard procedure to
provide a letter stating that a student is in good standing within the institution and/or within their program of
study.
Six Month ban for Issuance of study permit for Violating the law
If IRPA is violated, be prepared for a six month ban. The sixmonth ban applies to the issuance of a study permit
when the work or study was unauthorized because the applicant did not comply with the following conditions
imposed on them:
• the times and periods of the work [R185(b)(iv)];
• in the case of a member of a crew, the period within which they had to join the means of
transportation [R185(b)(v)];
• area within which they were permitted to travel or prohibited from travelling in Canada
[R185(d)];
• times and places at which they must have reported for medical examination, surveillance or
treatment, or the presentation of evidence of compliance with applicable conditions related to
medical requirements [R185(e)(i) and R185(e)(ii)].
Please contact an Immigration lawyer or a consultant if any violation has taken place.
Applying for PR after Graduation
Canadian Experience Class
CEC is the flagship option for applicants who have at least one year work experience in Canada.
You need to meet these requirements to apply under the Canadian Experience Class. You must:
● plan to live outside the province of Quebec
● have at least 12 months of fulltime (or an equal amount in parttime) skilled work experience in Canada
in the three years before you apply,
● have gained your experience in Canada with the proper authorization
● meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability (speaking, reading,
writing, and listening).

PhD eligibility stream—Federal skilled workers
As of November 5, 2011, international PhD students who wish to become permanent residents of Canada have
been able to submit applications for processing as Federal Skilled Workers. To be eligible under the new
stream, which is capped at 1,000 applications per year, applicants must have completed at least two years of
study toward the attainment of a PhD and remain in good academic standing at a provincially recognized
postsecondary educational institution in Canada. Foreign nationals who have graduated from a Canadian PhD
program within the preceding 12 months are also eligible. Note that PhD applicants must also meet all the
requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program. This initiative will help Canada and Canadian universities
to attract and retain top talent in a global economy. While PhD holders make up a small proportion of the
population, they play a unique and integral role in our nation’s economic health. Doctoral graduates drive
research, encourage innovation and pass on their knowledge through teaching.
PNP Programs in Canada
Most provinces and territories in Canada have an agreement with the Government of Canada that allows them
to nominate immigrants who wish to settle in that province or territory. If you choose to immigrate to Canada as
a provincial nominee, you must first apply to the province or territory where you wish to settle and complete its
provincial nomination process. The province/territory will consider your application based on its immigration
needs and your genuine intention to settle there.
The provinces and territories below currently participate in the PNP. Since the criteria vary among the provinces
and territories and can change without notice, you should visit their websites for the most current information.
● Alberta
● British Columbia
● Manitoba
● New Brunswick
● Newfoundland and Labrador
● Northwest Territories
● Nova Scotia
● Ontario
● Prince Edward Island
● Saskatchewan
● Yukon

I am providing information here only for my home province Alberta.
AINP Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
Skilled worker or semiskilled worker in a key indemand occupation in Alberta
You are a foreign worker who has been working fulltime (min 2 years) in Alberta in an eligible, indemand
skilled occupation (NOC 0, A, B) or semiskilled occupation (NOC C). Alberta Work Experience Category
available to November 28, 2013.
Skilled worker
You are a foreign worker and have a permanent, fulltime job offer from an Alberta employer in a skilled
occupation (NOC 0, A, B) : Skilled Worker Category
International graduate
You are a recent graduate from a Canadian postsecondary institution and have a permanent, fulltime job offer
from an Alberta employer in a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A, B) : International Graduate Category
Semiskilled worker
You are a foreign worker and have a permanent, fulltime job offer from an Alberta employer in an eligible
semiskilled occupation (NOC C or D).: SemiSkilled Worker Category
Please note: only select occupations from the following industries are eligible:
● Food and beverage processing industry
● Hotel and lodging industry:
○ Food and beverage servers and room attendants
○ Front desk agent/clerk
● Manufacturing industry
● LongHaul and Heavy Haul Trucking industry
● Food services industry (pilot project)
Tradesperson
Compulsory and Optional Trades Category You are a tradesperson who has an Alberta QC.

Engineer
You are an engineer, designer or drafter with Alberta work experience.: Engineering Occupations Category
More immigration options Federal Category
1. Family Sponsorship
2. Federal Skill Class The point system
3. Business Immigration.
a. Got a business idea ? Startup visa
b. Selfemployed persons

Options for foreign students in Canada-Work permit and Immigration

More Related Content

More from Amarjot Singh - Canadian Immigration Counsel

Recently uploaded

Options for foreign students in Canada-Work permit and Immigration