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Tag Archives: #internationalstudents

May 3, 2024

Dear future neighbour,

Congratulations to all soon-to-be graduates of Canadian institutions! We’ve curated this article with you in mind, anticipating your eagerness to invite loved ones to join in celebrating this significant milestone.

Depending on the nationality of your loved ones, some may require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), while others may need a temporary resident visa to enter Canada.

See below few supporting documents they will need from you for this application:

1. Proof of your status in Canada, e.g. a study permit or a PGWP

2. A letter of invitation

3. Proof of enrollment (if you are still studying)

4. Graduation invitation letter (mostly issued by the international center in your school)

5. And most importantly, proof of finances.

Please save this or share this information with someone.

Need help obtaining a visitor visa to visit Canada, or professional help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

April 29, 2024

Dear future neighbour,

Today, April 29, 2024, Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, announced an increase in off-campus working hours for international students during class sessions, from 20 to 24 hours, effective September 2024.

The existing full-time work policy will not be exceeding April 30, 2024 as earlier announced. International students will only be permitted to work for 20 hours per week while class is in session from the 1st of May, 2024 till fall of 2024 when the government can make a permanent amendment to make it 24 hour per week work limit.

You would recall that in December of 2023, there were speculations that the working hour limit for international students in Canada might be increased to 30 hours. IRCC Minister announced that extending the time to 30 hours would affect the academics of students. He believes that the 24 hours limit will assist students to meet their needs as the cost of living in Canada has increased while also focusing on their studies.

International students currently in Canada on an academic break can work unlimited hours. However, those enrolled in summer classes must now follow the 20-hour per week limit for work.

Need help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, spousal open work permit, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

April 8, 2024

Dear future neighbour,

The Immigration Minister, Marc Miller announced the allocation of study permit for all provinces. IRCC made an announcement on the 22nd of January, 2024 that there will be a cap on the the number of international students that will be let into Canada in the year, 2024. To achieve this, all provinces will be given an allocation on the total number of study permits that will be approved, this allocation will be based on the population of the province.

IRCC adjusted allocations for provinces that would receive a lower allocation of study permits to lessen any negative impact.

Provinces that were poised to receive more international students in 2024 than in 2023 had their allocations capped at 10% of their population.

IRCC also topped up the allocations for provinces with an approval rate lower than 60% believing that it will help these provinces reach their expected number of approved study permits.

See below study permit allocation according to province

IRCC does not have the authority to cap the number of approved study permits but the department can cap the number of study permit applications that are processed.

However, basing the cap for study permits on a national approval rate of 60%, IRCC says that the estimated cap of study permits issued is derived from the number of study permit applications it will process. In this situation, the department hopes to process 606,000 applications.

Need help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

 

 

March 28, 2024

Dear future neighbour,

In the city of Calgary, Alberta, you can rent a three bedroom apartment for an average of $2,837 in the city centre. This is according to statistics available on Numbeo.com which are gathered from residents in the city.

Unfortunately, accommodation affordability cannot be the only factor you consider when moving to a new city. We will be reviewing these factors and recommend cities based on statistics to help you make an informed decision.

See below in descending order the list of the cost of renting a similar apartment in the city centre in the province of Alberta:

1. Calgary – $2,837

2. Airdrie – $2,500

3. Edmonton – $2,115

4. Cold lake – $2,000

5. Fort Saskatchewan – $2,000

6. St. Albert – $1,639

7. Medicine Hat – $1,500

8. Grande Prairie – $1,450

9. Lethbridge – $1,125

Did we leave out any? Would you like to ask some questions? Are you interested in studying in Canada? Need help obtaining a visitor visa to visit Canada, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Start the journey by sending an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

March 28, 2024

Dear future neighbour,

The province of Ontario announced on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 that they will be giving 96% of study permit applications to public funded universities and 4% to private universities, language schools, and other institutions in the province. Career colleges will not receive any applications.

Institutions offering skilled programs such as STEM, Skilled Trades, Health Human Resources, Childcare and Hospitality will be prioritized. French-language enrollment will also be prioritized as employers compete for employees with French-language skills.

This measure is taken by the Ontario government to provide graduate with in-demand jobs and also meet with the demand of the province’s labour market.

See below criteria that will be used to issue applications to the institutions

  • Institution must prioritize programs in the high-demand fields: skilled trades, human resources in health, STEM, hospitality, and child care.
  • an institution cannot exceed the 2023 permission levels.
  • as a last safety measure, the proportion of foreign permits cannot go above 55% of the institution’s first-year domestic enrollment in 2023 (except in high-demand sectors).

IRCC announced putting a cap on study permit applications for international students January of 2024, this cap does not include those enrolled in master’s and doctoral degree programs and those in kindergarten through grade 12.

The allocation of study permits to an individual institution for 2024 and 2025 cannot exceed the number of permits Ontario issued in 2023 and the ratio of international permits cannot exceed 55% (exclusive of high-demand areas) of the institution’s 2023 first-year domestic enrollment.

Applications for 22 out of 23 universities will remain at the 2023 level. Algoma university is the only university to witness a decrease in 2023 applications.

A total of 11 of Ontario’s 24 public colleges will also maintain applications at the 2023 level. Conestoga College and other public-private college partnerships will see a huge decline in application.

Need help obtaining a visitor visa to visit Canada, or professional help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

 

March 26, 2024

Dear future neighbour,

As announced by IRCC on the 22nd of January, 2024, all provinces are required to issue Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) based on the allocation of study permits they receive within the newly implemented cap on study permits for 2024.

All provinces were given until March 31, 2024 to begin issuing the letters to international students. New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador have joined British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec on the list of provinces that have carried out this task.

Details on getting a PAL in New Brunswick

IRCC states that New Brunswick has had a PAL process in place since March 18. International students are required to contact their Designated Learning Institution (DLI) to find out how to apply.

After application, the DLI will then request for PAL from the province which would take a duration of two weeks to get a response.

On receipt of the PAL document, students can now submit their final study permit application alongside the completed PAL document.

Details on getting a PAL in Saskatchewan

According to IRCC, the PAL process for Saskatchewan has been in place since March 13, 2024. International students are advised to contact their DLI to get their PAL.

No additional details on getting a PAL yet from any of the province’s most prominent post-secondary institutions.

Details on getting a PAL in Newfoundland and Labrador

As of March 19, 2024, Newfoundland and Labrador’s PAL system has been put in place. International students are advised to contact their DLI to apply for their PAL.

Memorial University in St. John’s has the largest number of international students of any DLI in the province. The institution says it will contact admitted students via email to collect any additional information required for the attestation letter process, this will begin with students who intend to start in the May 2024 semester.

Need professional help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

 

 

 

 

 

March 25, 2024
March 25, 2024

Dear future neighbour,

IRCC updated Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility for international students on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Prior to this announcement, the IRCC had earlier announced on January 22, 2024 that international graduates of college programs offered through a public-private curriculum licensing partnership will no longer be eligible for PGWP effective September 1, 2024. However, this recent update from IRCC has moved the date up to May 15, 2024.

What the above information entails is that foreign students enrolled in public-private curriculum licensing partnership programs beginning May 15, 2024, or later will not be qualified for a post-graduation work permit.

According to new IRCC rules, these programs are NOT eligible for PGWP, with two exceptions listed below:

Exception 1: Curriculum licensing agreements made inside the same province

International students might qualify for a PGWP if they were enrolled in a program of study at a private college that was administered on behalf of a public institution in the same province before May 15, 2024.

Students won’t qualify for a PGWP if they start one of these programs on or after May 15, 2024.

Exception 2: Curriculum licensing agreements between province

International students might qualify for a PGWP if, on or before January 31, 2023, they started a program of study at a private college that is offering instruction on behalf of a public college in a different province.

However, students cannot apply for a PGWP if they started one of these programs after February 1, 2023.

See below eligibility scenarios for PGWPs

Type of Institution Required length of Program Program Outcome
Public post-secondary school DLI, such as a college, a trade/technical institution or a university 8 months or longer Student’s program must lead to one of the following:

–       A degree (associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate)

–       A diploma or certificate

Quebec Public Secondary School DLI offering vocational training programs 900 hours or longer Student’s program must lead to one of the following:

–       A Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS)

–       An Attestation of Vocational Specialization(AVS)

Quebec collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP)

 

900 hours or longer Student’s program must lead to one of the following:

-an attestation of college studies (ACS)

-a diploma of college studies

– a Diploma of College Studies(DCS)

 

Quebec provincially subsidized private post-secondary DLI

 

Or

 

Quebec provincially subsidized private secondary DLI offering provincially subsidized vocational training programs

900 hours or longer Student’s program must lead to one of the following:

–       An Attestation of College Studies (ACS)

–       A Diploma of College Studies(DCS)

 

You must be enrolled in one of the provincially subsidized study programs. This may not include all study programs offered at the DLI.

 

Canadian private designated learning institution authorized by the province to confer degrees.

 

 N/A Your DLI must be authorized by the province to confer degrees including

–       an associate degree

–       a bachelor’s degree

–       a master’s degree or

–       a doctorate

 

You must be enrolled in one of the study programs leading to a degree, as authorized by the province. This may not include all study programs offered by the private DLI.

 

See below ineligibility scenarios for PGWPs

International students cannot obtain a PGWP if any one of the below-listed scenarios applies:

  • possess a research permit that ended more than 180 days prior to your application.
  • previously obtained a PGWP.
  • studied a second language, either French or English.
  • completed courses in self-improvement or general interest.
  • took part in the Global Affairs Canada-funded Government of Canada Awards Program (GAC).
  • have obtained financial support from GAC
  • received the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada–Chile
  • took part in the Organization of American States Fellowships
  • participated in the Canada-Chile Scholars’ Exchanges Program
  • completed the majority of the study program through correspondence, e-learning, or online courses.
  • finished a study program at a Canadian non-Canadian institution.
  • You completed a course or study program at a DLI for which you are not eligible for the PGWP.
    • This also includes a curriculum licensing agreement (also known as a P3 or public-private partnership) that runs courses taught on behalf of a DLI that qualify for the PGWP.

Need help obtaining a visitor visa to visit Canada, or professional help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

 

 

 

March 21, 2024

Dear future neighbour,

In a bid to improve the level of education, experience, and language abilities required for employment success in the province, come January, 2025, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program will be creating three new streams for international students.

These streams would replace the current BC PNP International Graduate and International Post-Graduate streams.

Please see below the new BC PNP Streams that would take effect from January, 2025

1. Bachelor’s Stream

The bachelor’s stream will be open to recent graduates with bachelor’s degrees from qualifying post-secondary institutions. Graduates with an undetermined full-time employment offer will be eligible to register in this stream.

2. Master’s Stream

The Master’s stream will be open to recent graduates with master’s degrees from approved postsecondary institutions in any field of study. Graduates with a minimum one-year full-time work offer in a skilled occupation will be able to benefit from this stream.

3. Doctorate Stream

The doctorate stream will be open to graduates and candidates for doctoral-level studies at qualified postsecondary institutions. Graduates and PhD candidates may apply directly to this track.

Students who complete diploma or certificate programs in Canada (who are not qualified for these new graduate streams) can still qualify for other BC Provincial Nominee Program streams.

This update is part of the new measures being put in place by the province to protect international students from fraudulent institutions and organizations as the province aims to improve the eligibility conditions for Canadian permanent residency candidacy through the BC provincial nominee program.. The changes made by BC PNP includes:

  • a new three-stream system for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral graduates,
  • Enhanced language requirements, and
  • Priority of in-demand employment that assists the economy in British Columbia

The new graduate streams will require at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 8 proficiency.

The B.C. PNP aims to identify people who will boost B.C.’s economy by prioritizing workers in health care, construction, early childhood education, and other in-demand jobs. More information on this update will be announced later this year.

Need help obtaining a visitor visa to visit Canada, or professional help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

 

March 19, 2024

Dear future neighbour,

IRCC updated Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) today, March 19, 2024.

Spouses or common-law partners whose sponsors are enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program in a university or polytechnic in Canada are eligible for SOWP.

Spouses of undergraduate students studying any of the professional degrees listed below at a university in Canada are also eligible for a SOWP:

  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
  • Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL)
  • Doctor of Medicine (MD)
  • Doctor of Optometry (OD)
  • Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN, BNSc)
  • Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng., BE, BASc)

Spouses and partners applying for Spousal Open Work Permit must provide the documents below. A document that shows relationship to the student and proof of their partner’s enrollment in a degree-granting program of study.

  • a valid Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
  • a proof of enrolment letter from their spouse or partner’s DLI
  • transcripts from their spouse or partner’s current program

IRCC states that those who applied for a SOWP before March 19 are still eligible if their partner:

  • Has a valid study permit.
  • Is eligible for a post-graduation work permit(PGWP).
  • Is a full-time student at one of these types of schools:
  • a public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec
  • a private college-level school in Quebec
  • a Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law (for example, a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree)

These requirements are the same for current SOWP holders who apply to extend their existing permit.

A Spousal Open Work Permit Holder can work for almost any employer in Canada.

Need help obtaining a visitor visa to visit Canada, or professional help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com

March 19, 2024

Dear future neighbour,

Alberta and Manitoba has started issuing Provincial Attestation Letters (PAL) to Designated Learning Institutions (DLI). The amount of PALs given to each province and the way they intend to distribute them isn’t known for now.

Only approved international universities in Alberta and Manitoba will be sending the PAL document via email to the student. Students can only request for PAL when they have shown a commitment to study in the Designated Learning Institution by at least paying a deposit fee after receiving an offer of acceptance.

Each DLI have specific requirements for admission into their universities, so students are expected to carefully go through the websites of these universities before requesting for PAL.

IRCC has instructed that all provinces should have fallen in line with this programme as at the last day of March, 2024.

Need help obtaining a visitor visa to visit Canada, or professional help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com