International students will need to graduate from programs related to jobs with labor shortages and meet new language requirements to get a work permit after graduation, according to changes being considered by the Immigration Department.
With a limit on the number of international students, Immigration Minister Marc Miller has hinted at upcoming changes to the rules for post-graduation work permits. A survey sent to colleges and universities has provided some details on these changes.
Under the new plan, academic programs will be linked to Canada’s job classification system. This system will show which programs meet the education requirements for jobs that are expected to have labor shortages in the future.
For example, carpenters would be mapped to one of three programs of study: construction trades, carpentry, woodworking/general.
The proposed changes are “to align (postgraduation work permit) eligibility with labour market needs while reducing the overall volume of PGWP holders, and increasing the likelihood that international students have labour market outcomes commensurate with their education and training,” said the one-page questionnaire obtained by the Star.
For over ten years, international students could study any college or university program and still get an open work permit after graduation, even if their studies didn’t match what the Canadian economy needs.
These work permits have made Canada a popular choice for international students, but they have also been criticized for causing a huge increase in the number of foreign students enrolling.
The increase in international students has led Miller to set a two-year cap to decrease the number of new study permits issued and to reduce the number of hours students can work off campus per week during the school year.
The survey’s eight questions include:
•If the permit eligibility were restricted based solely on occupations in shortage, and corresponding programs of study, which occupations should be included based on the needs in your area?
•What, if any, cohorts should be exempted from these changes, such as francophone students or graduate degree programs or others?
•Should international students be required to demonstrate proof of a job offer aligned with the occupational shortage list in order to hold a (postgraduation work permit) beyond one year?
•Should any other eligibility criteria (language, provincial support, etc.), apart from a job offer, be applied to PGWP holders seeking to extend their permit past one year?
•What is your view of applying these labour market-based changes to PGWP eligibility to all graduates upon announcement this year, rather than grandfathering students who are already studying in Canada at the time of implementation?
Immigration officials are also seeking feedback from postsecondary education institutions about the prospects of permanent residence for international graduates with job offers in in-demand sectors under their respective provinces’ own immigration selection programs.
“Are there any gaps between the labour market needs you have identified and your (province’s) existing streams?” the survey asks. “Will any … amendments be required to ensure they remain responsive to graduates and PGWP holders in specific occupations?”
Getting an open work permit to stay in Canada after graduation has been a big reason why people choose to study here. The immigration system often selects candidates already in the country for permanent residency, favoring those with Canadian education and work experience.
Experts say changing the rules for post-graduation work permits could help Ottawa achieve its goals of restoring the international education program’s integrity, improving the quality of permanent resident candidates, and matching their studies with job market needs.
The last major changes to the post-graduation work permit program were in April 2008. These changes allowed recent graduates to get an open work permit for up to three years, depending on their program’s length, without restrictions on where they studied or needing a job offer.
