All you need to know about IRCC updates for international students

The foreign national students coming to Canada for study have new guidelines to follow while the country is witnessing the lifting up of pandemic restrictions.

The IRCC or Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada are honest in ensuring that the safety and needs of international students migrating to Canada for pursuing their academics are taken care of.

To curb the spread of the pandemic, the Canadian government had put travel restrictions in place. Travels that were non-essential were not permitted. All possible measures to prevent the spread, such as social distancing and a 14-day quarantine, were implemented.

With the recent decline in COVID cases, there has been a few travel restrictions for international students in Canada. Read on to know what you as an international student in Canada are permitted to do.

*If you want to study in Canada, Y-Axis is here to guide you to your bright academic future.

Travel exemptions for international students

These are the exemption for travel to Canada for international students:

• You are coming to Canada to study
• You are an international student returning to Canada
• You are a family member of the international student
• You are coming to Canada as a support person for the student

Application for the study permit

You can apply online for a study permit. Online application is a requirement even if you are residing in Canada.

When you apply, you are also required to submit the following documents:

• The letter of acceptance by the DLI or designated learning institution you applied for
• Additional documents are required to complete the application process
• An explanation letter for the documents which are missing because of the pandemic.

If you are not able to apply online because of some inconvenience, you can apply offline.

Applying at the entry point

You are not supposed to apply for a study permit at a Canadian port of entry. You need to apply for the study permit online before you enter Canada.

Conditions to follow for the study permit

If your courses have been moved to a virtual format or stopped due to the pandemic, you can still apply for the study permit if you follow these certain conditions:

• Maintain your enrolment in the DLI
• Participate in the online classes of your DLI
• Letter of support for future applications

For a future application, if an officer requires you to provide more information about the time you studied in Canada, the DLI would issue you a letter of support to notify the disruption of your studies due to the pandemic.

Validity of your Student Permit

If your student permit is going to expire soon, you have these three options:

• Extend your study permit if you want to continue with your studies.
• You may meet the eligibility requirement for the PGWP or Post-Graduate Work Permit or a general work permit.
• You can submit an application to change your status from student to visitor.
• You need to submit an application for one of the options mentioned above prior to your study permit expiring. Otherwise, you may have to leave Canada.

If your study permit is about to expire, you can apply for its extension.

Study Permits for Visitors

If you are a visitor who has applied for a study permit, you can submit your application online for the study permit if you are staying in Canada as a visitor.

You cannot begin your study program until you are issued a study permit.

*Want to visit Canada? Y-Axis is here to assist you.

Employed as a student

According to a rule implemented on September 1, 2020, to be employed in Canada as a student, you need to be

• A student in a full-time course
• Have an admission in a DLI
• Meet all the requirements of eligibility for on-campus and off-campus to be employed

*Wish to work in Canada? Y-Axis is here to offer you guidance.

Work permits for co-op

After the outbreak of the pandemic, a large number of international students were studying online from their native countries. If your DLI and employer agree, you can opt for either.

• Employment in a Canadian organization and working remotely from your native country
• Employed in an organization in your native country
• If you are working in a country other than Canada, you can work while your study permit and application for the co-op work permit are being processed.

Effect on PGWP eligibility

If you are in Canada, you are eligible for the PGWP if, due to the pandemic, any of the situations given below has happened to you:

• Your physical classes in Canada were converted to a virtual format.
• Your program consists of both offline and online learning. It is advised that you attend your offline classes when it is offered.
• You had to pause your studies to study part-time in the spring, summer, or winter for the 2020 semesters.

Do you want to study in Canada? Contact Y-Axis, World’s No. 1 Overseas Study Consultant.

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