Canada: Eligibility for PGWP not affected by online courses

International students are now eligible for the Post Graduation Work Permit [PGWP] even with online courses. Online course work not to be taken as ineligibility for international student graduates looking for Canadian work experience.

 

There will be no penalization for online coursework for international students that will be beginning their Canadian study program in the weeks to come and plan on applying for a PGWP eventually.

 

This is another temporary reform taken by the Canadian government in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Under the usual circumstances, studying online would make an applicant ineligible for a PGWP.

 

Normally, in order to be eligible for a PGWP, an international student is required to have continuously studied full time in Canada in any program that has a minimum duration of at least 8 months.

 

The PGWP allows international students to stay on in Canada after the completion of their studies and Work in Canada for up to 3 years. Working on a PGWP is one of the ways to gain Canadian work experience that is highly valued in economic immigration leading to Canada PR.

 

As per research conducted by Statistics Canada – “Which Human Capital Characteristics Best Predict the earnings of Economic Immigrants?” – it was found that “principal applicants with Canadian work experience prior to landing are treated more like Canadian workers in the labour market, regarding the returns to education and experience.”

 

Those with Canadian work experience before becoming permanent residents in Canada have been found to integrate faster into the labour market.

 

This temporary reform is also applicable to those international students that we're unable to travel to Canada due to travel restrictions despite having either a study permit or approval for a program starting in May or June 2020.

 

Such students can begin with their classes from outside Canada. Up to half of their study program can be completed abroad if they are not able to go to Canada sooner.

 

Do keep in mind that those international students that got approval for study permits after March 18 cannot travel to Canada as of now. They are not exempt from the travel ban in place. Canada’s travel ban will be in place till June 30, 2020.

 

If you are looking to Study in Canada, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate Overseas, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No. 1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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