On November 15, immigration minister Marc Miller confirmed the adjustments which come as a part of IRCC’s mission to “root out fraud and defend college students from monetary vulnerability”.
Underneath the brand new rule, eligible worldwide college students can work as much as 24 hours per week off campus whereas their courses are in session.
Earlier this 12 months, the federal government had introduced its intention to lift the variety of hours worldwide college students can work to 24 hours, however a date had not been set for implementation.
Whereas worldwide college students in Canada have been allowed to work as much as 20 hours per week, throughout common semesters and faculty phrases, this restrict elevated to 40 hours in the course of the pandemic.
The coverage was launched to handle the nation’s labour scarcity whereas giving worldwide college students extra incomes alternatives.
The momentary coverage ended on April 30, bringing again the 20-hour requirement.
“By fixing the off-campus work restrict to 24 hours per week, we’re placing the appropriate stability between offering work alternatives and serving to college students keep targeted on their training,” mentioned Miller.
“We additionally anticipate establishments to help our efforts to protect the integrity of the Worldwide Pupil Program. Worldwide college students ought to have a constructive, profitable expertise in Canada, and the necessary adjustments made immediately will assist with that.”
“Worldwide college students ought to have a constructive, profitable expertise in Canada, and the necessary adjustments made immediately will assist with that.”
Marc Miller, immigration minister
Like earlier guidelines, the cap applies solely to hours college students work off-campus whereas their courses are in session.
Worldwide college students can proceed to work any variety of hours on-campus and off-campus throughout breaks between tutorial phrases when courses are usually not being held.
Elsewhere, latest adjustments stipulate that worldwide college students can solely change studying establishments if they’re permitted for a brand new examine allow.
Beforehand, college students might change establishments on the identical examine allow so long as they up to date their IRCC on-line account with the brand new data.
“This modification is consistent with the necessary work we’ve got been doing to strengthen the integrity of the Worldwide Pupil Program,” mentioned IRCC in an announcement.
The Canadian authorities can also be growing its scrutiny of Designated Studying Establishments – these establishments permitted by a provincial or territorial authorities to host worldwide college students.
Going ahead, there might be penalties for DLIs who’re unable to submit compliance stories or confirm acceptance letters.
Twice a 12 months, DLIs should submit a report back to IRCC on whether or not every examine allow holder related to their college has remained enrolled.
College students who’re not enrolled “could be investigated and face enforcement motion,” as they might be breaking their examine allow situations.
“With this transformation, a DLI may very well be suspended from welcoming new worldwide college students for as much as a 12 months for failing to offer the required data,” mentioned IRCC.
Establishments in Quebec have been supplied with a grace interval earlier than they’ll take part in pupil compliance reporting as it can take Quebec and IRCC “a while” to arrange this reporting system for Quebec DLIs.
IRCC has hailed its newly launched letter of acceptance verification course of.
Since its launch on December 1, 2023, by way of October 6, 2024, the division mentioned that it acquired 529,000 LOAs for verification of which almost 492,000 LOAs had been confirmed as legitimate.
IRCC recognized greater than 17,000 LOAs that didn’t match any issued by a DLI.
Moreover, many of those LOAs had already been cancelled by the DLI earlier than the candidates submitted their examine allow purposes.
As introduced in its 2025–2027 Immigration Ranges Plan, Canada goals to lower its momentary resident inhabitants over the following few years.
This, in line with IRCC, is to “align with Canada’s lengthy-term financial objectives and strengthen the integrity and high quality of its momentary resident packages”.
The newly applied guidelines come simply days after Canada introduced an finish to the Pupil Direct Stream and the Nigeria Pupil Categorical, which enabled fast-track processing for post-secondary college students from sure international locations.
The latest adjustments, together with an additional 10% discount in examine permits from the 2024 goal, are a part of the Canadian authorities’s efforts to restrict worldwide college students amid issues surrounding the housing and affordability disaster.
