As the year is coming to an end, many international students wait anxiously for the temporary policy to end. However, Canada makes international student work hours policy permanent. As a result, this enables the students to work full-time off-campus apart from scheduled breaks.
This policy was declared in October 2022 & is a measure which was introduced by IRCC in an effort to ease acute labor shortages in the nation. However, IRCC’s temporary policy is set to expire on December 31, 2023. Well, this comes after the policy was first implemented on November 15, 2022.
Note: Before implementing this measure, IRCC restricted international students to 20 hours of off-campus employment weekly during the school year. However, the students were allowed to work full-time during scheduled academic breaks.
Who Was Eligible To Work For More Than 20 Hours Every Week?
As Canada makes international student work hours policy permanent, the measure allows eligible applicants studying in Canada to work off-campus beyond the standard 20-hour-per-week limit placed on international students while the classes are ongoing.
In addition, in order to be eligible for the amended work hours policy, foreign nationals across the nation must be attending classes & should have designated off-campus work authorization included on their study permit.
Moreover, individuals already enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary program must submit a study permit application as of the day the measure was declared.
Many Stakeholders Are Calling For IRCC To Make The Present Policy Permanent
As Canada makes international student work hours policy permanent, many argue that this step will benefit foreign students who need to earn money to account for inflation & the increasing cost of living in the nation. For instance, a student from the University of Saskatchewan asserted that being able to work beyond 20 hours every week enabled him to pay off his tuition fees.
In addition, being able to work for more hours has been beneficial to students battling the increasing costs because inflation has increased from $100 to $300 a month. Understanding that the permanence of this policy will aid international students fighting against the increasing affordability crisis in Canada.
Chances That IRCC Will Make This Policy Permanent For Eligible International Students
There has been no indication from the government regarding whether or not authorities will make the work hours policy permanent as the year ends. This is in spite of the fact that Canada still needs help combatting labor shortages, implying that the rationale behind the policy’s implementation continues to be an issue that the nation has to grapple with.