IRCC announced that international students can work up to 24 hours a week off-campus. The temporary rule allowed the students to work more than 20 hours. It ended on 30th April 2024. This measure intends to allow students to focus primarily on their studies. The flexible work limits also, however, give them the option to work if necessary without compromising academics.
How Does the Change Impact Working International Students?
International students can no longer work for more than 20 hours or more per week off campus as was stated in the temporary policy. As per the latest news release by IRCC, eligible students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus.
This change of working hours ensures that the students get enough time to do their studies. However, you can continue working unlimited hours if you are on a scheduled academic break.
Why was the Change Important?
The government analyzed existing policies in other countries and the needs of students. Recent studies in the US and Canada showed how academic performances are affected when students work for more than 28 hours a week. Working for over 24 hours a week made the students more likely to drop out of the program.
According to their research, students’ academic grades go down as they continue working while studying. The less they work during this time, the better their results will be.
How Can International Students Work in Canada?
You can work in Canada as an international student if you have graduated from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution. Working while studying gives you the chance to gain valuable Canadian work experience. You can work for up to 3 years after graduation if eligible.
You need a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) to be eligible for work in Canada.
Are you eligible for PGWP?
The eligibility criteria for PGWP are as follows:
You should have a valid study permit.
You should have completed a study program from a designated learning institution.
The program should lead to a diploma, certificate or degree and be at least 8 months long.
You have maintained your status as a ‘full-time’ student every semester of your study program.
You should graduate from either of the following:
Public post-secondary school
A private post-secondary school such as in Quebec follows the same policies as public schools in Quebec
Canadian private schools are eligible to award degrees under provincial law.
Private secondary and post-secondary Quebec schools with qualifying programs for over 900 hours.
You can apply for a work permit from overseas or inside Canada as long as you are eligible. However, you need to change your status to a ‘visitor’ if your study permit expires before you apply for the PGWP.
The entire processing of PGWP applications is quite daunting. Also, the frequent change of policies makes it more challenging. You can get help from immigration consultants like the ones at Onkar Immigration. From assessing your eligibility to processing the PGWP application, they can guide you through the entire process.
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) allows Alberta to nominate eligible candidates for permanent residence (PR). Skilled entrepreneurs, students and workers can get PR in Canada if their occupation is in demand. All you have to do is meet the specific criteria of the program and you will be a step closer to becoming a permanent resident in Alberta.
The government has been making significant changes to the program since 2020. August 2024 is no exception. You should stay aware of the updates if you want to attain your PR through this program. This blog discusses all updates done to AAIP in August 2024. Let’s begin.
2-year open work permit from IRCC
(Temporary measure) (26th August, 2024)
Who is it for?
Alberta Opportunity Stream and Rural Renewal Stream nominee applicants
What is this update all about?
The government announced a temporary public policy through which specific candidates from the above streams will be eligible to seek a maximum 2-year, open work permit from IRCC. You cannot apply for this policy separately. The AAIP sends you a letter of support if they determine you are eligible. The letter of support enables the selected candidate to seek a 2-year extension on an existing work permit.
What is the eligibility criteria?
The above-mentioned candidates should meet the following criteria:
● You are waiting for the processing of your application to be completed as of 26th August 2024.
● You had a legit work permit with expiry dates from 7th May and 31st December 2024, at the time of application
● Your application was declined between 7th May and 26th August 2024 because your work permit expired in 2024.
You do not become eligible for this program update if your work permits expired. In that case, you need to show that the permit has maintained its status during the processing of your application. You can also determine your eligibility to restore the temporary resident status to receive the letter of support.
How does it benefit eligible candidates?
Eligible candidates can receive an open work permit valid for a maximum of 2 years. The added ‘two years’ allow the applicants to maintain their eligibility for PR and work at the same time. The nominee applicants will be able to enjoy their extended employment. However, their eligibility for a nomination will remain unknown until 2025.
The new temporary policy will help AAIP make significant decisions about work permits with specific expiration dates. Examples include work permits with expiry dates between 1st January 2024 and 6th May 2024 along with work permits that are expiring in early 2025.
Open work permit for those affected by Alberta wildfires
The government has brought forth this temporary special measure for those directly affected by recent wildfires. The AAIP will accept work permits that IRCC issued under the Alberta Opportunity and Tourism and Hospitality Streams.
Who is eligible?
You are eligible if the wildfires prevent you from working for your current employer and hence you need to convert the employer-specific work permit to an open work permit. In that case, AAIP will accept the work permit between 19th July 2024 and 30th November 2024.
The work permit requirements are not available in Rural Renewal or Express Entry streams. The Alberta Opportunity and Tourism and Hospitality Streams, however, can accept the work permit under these special measures.
A new expression of interest system
The AAIP will launch a new expression of interest system (EOI) on 30th September 2024. This update marks a significant shift from the previous monthly application process. The new system will allow continuous intake of EOIs. That means the eligible candidates can express their interest at any time instead of following specific application dates.
The new system puts candidates in a selection pool. IRCC will rank each candidate on the basis of skills, work experience and their potential to meet the labour market needs of Alberta. Applicants with the highest rankings will get the invitation to apply for permanent residence. This update will make the immigration process to Alberta simpler and more efficient.
Final Thoughts,
The AAIP is a popular economic immigration program in the Canadian province of Alberta. Whether you want to set a business up in Alberta or work as a foreign national here, this program is the way to go. If you fit the eligibility criteria, the AAIP can further nominate individuals for permanent residence in Alberta. You can gather updated information about AAIP changes from experienced consultants at reputed immigration firms such as Onkar Immigration. They can assess your eligibility criteria and process the applications hassle-free.
Most employers in Canada need an LMIA to hire a temporary foreign worker. An LMIA is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which assesses the impact of hiring foreign workers in the country. The document ensures that you need a temporary foreign worker to fill that specific position in your firm. The Canadian Government brings forth important updates in 2024 for employers with LMIA and an interest in hiring foreign temporary workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Reducing the number of foreign workers in Canada
The TFW or Temporary Foreign Worker Program is meant to hire foreign nationals only when no Canadian or permanent resident is eligible for the position. Minister Boissonnault, however, announced that they were planning to reduce the dependence of employers on this program.
The following changes will be implemented from 26th September 2024 to the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program.
The Canadian Government will no longer process LMIAs in the low-wage stream in specific areas. It will be applicable in census metropolitan areas which has an unemployment rate of 6% or more.
Exceptions include seasonal and non-seasonal jobs in food security, construction and healthcare sectors.
Canadian employers can hire only 10% of their total workforce under the TFW program. This will be applied to the Low-Wage stream.
Exceptions include seasonal and non-seasonal jobs in food security, construction and healthcare sectors.
Temporary workers hired through the Low-Wage stream can work for a maximum of one year.
These tight measures ensure that Canadian employers invest in the workers available in the country. They should also focus on upskilling to help the employees adapt to the economy of the future.
Refusing LMIA Applications for low-wage positions in Montreal
LMIA applications that were submitted between 3rd September 2024 and 3rd March 2025 will not be processed. The Government has refused to process certain LMIA applications, such as:
Jobs with a wage below the median hourly wage of $27.47 in Quebec
Jobs that have a work location in the economic region of Montreal
Exceptions
LMIA applications for specific in-home caregiver positions in sectors such as construction, education, construction and others are exempted from the above rule.
Managing impacts of hazardous weather
You should meet the following requirements if your business cannot operate due to the weather:
Issue ROEs to help TFWs apply for Employment Insurance benefits.
Inform the Employer Contact Centre of any changes to the LMIA (for example- layoffs)
Canadian employers need to meet program obligations if they or their workers are affected by hazardous weather conditions. Employers should contact their respective regional processing centres in the case of any unreachable TFWs.
Do you need an LMIA?
The government is getting stricter with LMIA applications. As an employer, you should be aware of your duties and responsibilities related to the LMIA. You should have a clear idea about which type of application to submit to hire eligible foreign national candidates. Getting an LMIA is quite a daunting task. You can get thorough guidance from immigration consultants such as the ones at Onkar Immigration. They are licensed professionals who can help you through the LMIA process till the end.
IRCC has finally put an end to the temporary public policy that was brought forth during the pandemic. The policy is used to let visitors apply for a work permit while living in the country. It was supposed to end on 28th February, 2025. However, the federal government scrapped it immediately to improve the efficiency of the Canadian immigration system.
What was the Temporary Public Policy About?
IRCC introduced this temporary policy in August 2020. The purpose was to help visitors stuck inside the country due to the pandemic. The policy allowed visitors in Canada to apply for a work permit without leaving the country.
However, some international workers also changed their status to ‘visitor’ whose work permit expired a year before. The visitor status was used to let them apply to work legally in the country while the government processes their new work permit application.
Why did the Government End the Policy So Soon?
Initially, the policy was supposed to end on 28th February 2025. The federal government ended it on 28th August 2024 for two major reasons:
Regulate the number of temporary residents already living in Canada
Improve the efficiency of the Canadian immigration system
IRCC had to curb this temporary policy also because some fraudsters were misleading international students into applying for work permits in Canada. This is a measure to address the existing labour gaps in Canada and stabilize the immigration system.
Are There Any Further Restrictions on Foreign Workers in Canada?
According to the CIC report, the end of the COVID-19 public policy is one of the attempts of the government to reduce the foreign worker levels in the country. The changes would help the country meet their labour shortages in specific sectors and streamline immigration.
Other changes include the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) halting the processing of LMIA applications for some candidates under the Low-Wage stream. This will affect candidates from Census Metropolitan Areas where the unemployment rate is 6% or higher. The government also announced that Canadian employers can hire foreign workers for 10% of their total workforce. The maximum employment term under the Low-Wage stream will be reduced to one year.
All in all, Canada is witnessing some major changes to the temporary worker programs. You should stay aware of all the immigration updates related to this field if you want to immigrate to this country and work here smoothly. There are immigration consultancy firms such as Onkar Immigration who can guide you through the process and make the journey easier.
IRCC opened public consultations from 27th June 2024 to 28th July 2024 to discuss the new Express Entry categories. They also reviewed the existing categories and set new priorities for the selection of candidates through the Express Entry (EE) system. Let’s take an in-depth look at the Express Entry public consultation and the new categories they might introduce for the draws in 2025.
What is the Express Entry System?
Introduced in 2015 by the Canadian Government, the Express Entry system is an online application management system for immigrants to submit their permanent residence applications.
Potential candidates should be first eligible for any one of the federal economic immigration programs:
The Federal Skilled Worker Program
The Federal Skilled Trades Program
The Canadian Experience Class
Eligible candidates can create an online profile in the EE system. The profile consists of information about their work experience, skills, education, language ability, etc. The IRCC scores each profile based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranking candidate gets an invitation to apply for permanent residence through regular draws, usually every two weeks.
Candidates who received the invitations have 60 days to submit a complete application for PR. The Canadian Government reviews the applications and sends a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) to the eligible candidates. The entire process takes around six months or less.
What about the Express Entry Category-Based Selection System?
Introduced in 2023, the category-based selection system is the process through which Canada targets specific groups of candidates who can help bridge the country’s labour market and economic gaps. The categories could be occupations, language proficiency, work experience, skills and other criteria. These category-based selections form an integral part of the broader Express Entry framework.
CLB level 7 proficiency in the French language
Or,
At least 6 months of work experience in the below-mentioned occupations:
Transportation
Healthcare
Agriculture and agri-food
STEM
Trade
No changes were made to these categories in 2024.
IRCC, however, opened public consultations between 27th June and 28th July to review these categories and introduce a new one for 2025 Express Entry draws. Feedback from partners and stakeholders will decide the fate of the existing and new Express Entry categories.
What are the Express Entry Priorities set by IRCC for 2025?
The new Express Entry categories 2025 are to determined on the basis of three priorities set by IRCC:
(1st Priority) Structural Labour Shortages
IRCC wants to address the labour shortages in the existing occupation-based categories in 2025. Doing so will help Canada offer health services to its citizens and their families and improve the country’s housing supply.
They are collecting real-time evidence from stakeholders and partners to understand the urgency of each category. This will help them decide whether to discontinue any of the occupation-based categories in 2025.
IRCC is also deciding on who to send the invites for the occupation-based categories in 2025. It can be the temporary residents who are living in Canada already or new skilled workers from outside.
Check out the surveys done under this priority
Rating all occupation-based categories based on the following:
Great need
Average need
Little need
No need at the time
Not sure/don’t know
2 reasons why IRCC should focus on temporary residents to address the labour shortages
Time taken to integrate them into the Canadian labour market
Time taken to recognize international education and experience
Work experience or education in Canada
Acknowledging the contributions made by the ones already living in Canada
Pressures related to population growth that impact Canadian communities
Others. Please specify.
2 reasons why IRCC should focus on hiring new skilled workers from outside to address the labour shortages
New skilled workers boost the country’s economy
Temporary residents who are currently living in Canada will get access to multiple immigration pathways
Grant them PR on the basis of their Canadian experience and education
Qualified residents in Canada already meet the needs
Others. Please specify.
The possible introduction of a new education-based category in 2025
IRCC is most likely to introduce a new category for education. It would depend on the following factors:
The severity of labour shortages in this particular sector
How does permanent economic immigration impact the above?
Here are the occupations IRCC may include as a new category of education:
Instructors for people with disabilities
Kingergarten teachers
Elementary school teachers
Secondary school teachers
Early childhood assistants and educators
Secondary and elementary school teacher assistants
Educational counsellors
The surveys also discuss if any other occupations need to be added to the above list. It is yet to be decided the criteria for the selection of candidates in this category.
(2nd Priority) Francophone Immigration
Francophone immigration helps meet the labour needs of bilingual and French-speaking workers in Canada. IRCC plans to target 6%, 7% and 8% of French-speaking permanent residents in 2024, 2025 and 2026 respectively.
(3rd Priority) Current labour needs in crucial industries
IRCC is going to focus on emerging labour needs throughout Canada and introduce new occupational categories accordingly. Here are some of the potential occupational categories you can expect in 2025:
Applied sciences such as biomanufacturing
New technologies such as eco-friendly technology
Natural resources such as the production of electric vehicle battery
IRCC is yet to decide if they want temporary residents already living in Canada or new skilled workers from outside for this priority.
Stay Informed with your Immigration Consultant
The proposed new Express Entry categories for 2025 reflect the proactive approach to address Canada’s economic and labour market needs. This forward-thinking approach underscores Canada’s dedication to maintaining a robust and dynamic immigration system that benefits both newcomers and the nation as a whole. You should stay informed on all the updates with your immigration consultant to make the most of the opportunities here.
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