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International students in limbo, Minister Fraser announces an eighteen months extension of PGWP

by Marzio Pelù

TORONTO – International graduates students with expired or expiring work permits will be able to extend their authorization to work in Canada for another eighteen months under a new immigration measure announced today by Minister Sean Fraser.

Good news for the thousands of students who were in limbo, just like the Italian girl to whose story we dedicated an article yesterday (you can re-read it by clicking here). So, according to the Immigration Minister, Postgraduate Work Permit Holders (PGWP) who qualify for the program will soon be contacted with information on logging into their online account to join and update their file, starting April 6.

A PGWP is typically not extendable, but similar policies have been implemented twice during the pandemic to allow international graduates to stay and work in Canada as many have run out of status and have been unable to pursue permanent residency due to significant immigration backlogs, at least according to reports from the IRCC.

Those with a work permit that expired in both 2022 and 2023 will therefore be able to reinstate their status, even if they have exceeded the 90-day reinstatement period, and will receive a provisional work permit pending their new application for work. work permit.

“We must use every tool to support employers who continue to face challenges in hiring the workers they need to grow,” said Minister Fraser. “We are providing international graduates whose work permits are about to expire or have expired with an additional period of time to remain in Canada to gain valuable work experience and potentially qualify to become permanent residents”.

The federal government’s 2022 PGWP extension program hasn’t been without a hitch. Permit holders were initially told that their permit would be processed automatically without them having to do anything. However, many have not received the necessary documents and have run out of status to stay and work legally in the country.

“The lessons learned from that process have been applied as we implement a similar one. The new public policy will allow anyone who was eligible under the 2022 initiative to apply for an open work permit and have their status reinstated”.

“Thank you for your patience”, concluded Minister Fraser, referring to the odyssey experienced by international students who remained hanging by a thread until this morning’s announcement.

All additional information is available on this link: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2023/03/canada-announces-extension-of-post-graduation-work-permits-for-up-to-18-months-to-retain-high-skilled-talent.html 

In the pic above, Minister Fraser during the press conference today (screenshot from the live video on https://www.youtube.com/@CitImmCanada)

The odyssey of international students in Canada: trained, hired, then sent back home

by Marzio Pelù

TORONTO – A double Master’s, one in Italy after a three-year degree in one of the most prestigious Italian universities and a second one in Canada. Then, a permanent job in Toronto. But that’s not enough. Also, she, like many other young Italians and Europeans, will have to return to Italy because it seems impossible to obtain a visa extension (not to mention the “mirage” better known by the name of Permanent Residence: the PR). 

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Students’ “Memostrikes” at George Harvey and York Memorial: “Education is a (denied) right”

by Marzio Pelù

TORONTO – “Education is a right. Our right. But in our schools, this right is denied to us”. Angry and disappointed, students at York Memorial Collegiate Institute and George Harvey Collegiate Institute (TDSB) protested this morning demanding safer, better equipped, more comfortable schools. School where teachers are present. Schools where the police “who have often terrorized the students” do not intervene. In short, schools where you can study with serenity. 

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Premier Ford offers to withdraw Bill 28, students go back to school tomorrow

by Mariella Policheni

TORONTO – Without even waiting for the decision of the Ontario Labour Relations Board to which it had turned to declare illegal the strike of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Ontario government has made a U-turn. Today, during a surprise press conference, Premier Ford announced the decision to revoke the controversial Keeping Students in Class Act “provided that the union agrees to end the strike and continue to negotiate”. 

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The pandemic’s impact on immigration and international students

by Priscilla Pajdo

Immigration is the key to economic growth in Canada. With the nation’s fertility rate on a steady decline, the Canadian government maintains that immigration is key to replenishing the population. It estimates that 75% of the country’s population growth is attributable to immigration.

Part of that growth is generated through international students. According to a Statistics Canada report (June 2021), about six in ten first-time study permit holders who worked throughout their duration of study or post graduation become permanent residents.

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