The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) enables international students to gain Canadian work experience, which can help them transition to permanent resident status.
Sean Fraser, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, recently stated that as of April 6, 2023, individuals holding an expiring Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) will be allowed to apply for an Open Work Permit extension.
Anyone whose PGWP expires in 2023 may apply for an Open Work Permit extension. Also, it will be accessible to people whose PGWP expired in 2022 and who requested for an Open Work Permit extension with the IRCC last year.
Candidates can submit an application for the extension on the IRCC website starting on April 6. Individuals who submit an application will receive an email with a temporary work permit that they can present to their employers in order to continue working lawfully in Canada.
Even if their status expires outside of the 90-day grace period offered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), individuals whose legal status in Canada has expired will be allowed to apply concurrently to restore their status. As of April 6, these people will be able to reinstate their status and obtain a temporary Open Work Permit at the same time.
Starting on April 6, the IRCC said it would email notifications to people who qualify for the extension inviting them to access their online IRCC Secure Account.
International students may be eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) if they complete an approved educational programme at a Canadian-designated educational institution (DLI).
PGWPs allow foreign graduates to work in Canada for any employer of their choice for a maximum of three years (the length of a PGWP is determined by the length of the educational programme completed by the international graduate).
PGWPs are highly coveted by international students due to the nature of Canada’s economic class immigration programs. Many of these programs rewards candidates who have studied and worked in Canada.
This is justified by research from Statistics Canada that demonstrates how such study and employment experiences can enhance the integration of international students who later become citizens of Canada.
It is believed that obtaining a Canadian education, working in Canada, honing one’s English or French, and establishing social networks there will all help these immigration candidates integrate economically.
As a result, some routes, like the federal Express Entry system, give extra points to applicants who have studied and worked in Canada.
Additionally, there are provincial routes that are available only to graduates from abroad, including the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
The majority of foreign students studying in Canada express interest in obtaining for permanent residence.
Higher international student levels are a result of Canada’s openness to foreign talent and rising immigration rates.
Around 98,000 PGWP holders, or about 82% of all TRs who acquired PRs in 2022, became permanent residents.
In 2023, Canada hopes to accept a record 465,000 new permanent residents; by 2025, the goal will be 500,000.
Although Minister Fraser has consistently expressed his intention to assist with such transitions, Canada does not have a specific objective of TRs it aims to convert to PR.
Increased TR to PR transitions via Fast Entry is one of Minister Fraser’s aims, according to the mandate letter that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave him.
PGWP holders can now apply for Open Work Permit extensions because IRCC has approved two exceptions in recent years due to the high demand for PGWP holders to become permanent residents.
These exclusions were made in order to offer these people additional time to perhaps apply for permanent residence.
Those whose PGWP expired between September 2021 and the end of December 2022 qualified for the final exception.
IRCC notes there were more than 286,000 PGWP holders in Canada at the end of 2022. About 127,000 PGWPs expire in 2023, however, about 67,000 PGWP holders have already applied for permanent residence and will not need to extend their work permit through this initiative.
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