The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is carrying out a survey on eight areas capable of bringing possible changes to the Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) programme for international students.
These new reforms are being considered to align international students with labour market needs just as it would reduce the overall volume of PGWP holders, the official website of IRCC has revealed.
It also disclosed that these new changes to eligibility criteria are being considered to be implemented for international students already in Canada as well as future cohorts.
The PGWP programme has been an important component in attracting international students since it provides work opportunities after the completion of a study program.
Recall that Canada has made major changes to the program this year to crack down on abuse of the system but the new move based on the 8-point survey indicates that further refinement of this programme is under consideration.
Based on questions asked in the survey to colleges and universities, it looks like students would be required to complete programs that are associated with labour shortages and satisfy new language requirements in order to qualify for PGWP after completing their study.
This would suggest programs that are designed to satisfy the educational prerequisites of the positions that are anticipated to experience labour shortages in the future.
According to the official website, this initiative would suggest programmes that are designed to satisfy the educational prerequisites of the positions that are anticipated to experience labour shortages in the future, adding that study programmes would be classified in accordance with Canada’s national occupational classification (NOC).
One part of the survey suggestted that study programmes corresponding to occupations eligible for category-based selections in the Express Entry draw are more likely to be there.
The second question of the survey is anticipated to be aimed at deciding exemptions if new PGWP eligibility criteria are set, such as for students with a high level of French proficiency or certain degree programs.
Another condition being added to the PGWP eligibility criteria has it that students will have to submit proof of a job offer in order to continue working on PGWP. This seems not to be universal, but only for study programs that will be aligned with the occupational shortage list mentioned in the first question.
Similarly, labour market-based changes to PGWP eligibility could be announced this year and the immigration department is considering whether to exempt existing students or not while
the department is asking stakeholders to determine the frequency of revisions of occupations in demand and when they should be effective.
On another hand, a survey question is aimed at determining whether the new eligibility criteria for post graduation work permits will be able to retain students in the region or province of the educational institution for the long term while another aspect of the survey seems to ensure that students are set up for a pathway to permanent residency and are proactively aligned with the eligibility requirements of the provincial nominee program (PNP) of a particular province.
Upperhill News 
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