• The program provides a unique opportunity for International Students to acquire valuable work experience in Canada

• It is a once in a lifetime work permit, it will be issued only once.• It is open work permit (any employer, anywhere in Canada)

• It is bridging mechanism from Temporary Residence (TR) to Permanent Residency (PR)

• An opportunity for International Students to earn back their investment in their education in Canada

• Return on investment is high even if the international student ultimately doesn’t qualify for PR

StudentsCo-op,

Internships, Practicums

Temporary Foreign Workers

Post Graduate

Work Permits -

OPENInternational students may be eligible for two types of WP

• International students who have successfully completed their eligible Program of study at VIU.

• Studied continuously full-time• Applied within 180 days of program completion

(see later slide on benefit of applying within 90 days)

• If in Canada, must have valid student or visitor status at time of application,

• Student’s study permit has an authorization to work on or off campus

Online Studies

inside & outside Canada

Non-credit courses

(auditing, ABE)

General interest

courses, 6 months or less

NOT ELIGIBLE

FOR PGWP

YOU MAY BE INELIGIBLE IF:• Student does not apply within 180 days of program completion• Student in Canada does not have valid student, nor visitor

status• NON-compliance with SP conditions: exceeded 20 h. per week

limit, and/or continued to work after program completion• Student did not study continuously and full- time in Canada,

(except for the final semester where part-time studies are allowed)

• Student attended an ineligible institution for PGWP

• Program Completion is Not Convocation. It is NOT the graduation ceremony

• Program Completion is the date when you will receive written notification from your program saying that you successfully completed your program, or final marks are posted (whichever comes first)

Getting grad documents for PGWP application:• Apply in final semester for graduation from

Student Record - $52• Check that final marks are posted in Student

Record• Apply for Letter of Graduation in B255 -$20 • Apply for Official Transcripts in B200 or on-

line -$19.25 for same day pick-up, or $11.60 for 7 day processing

Your study permit expires 90 days after you have received written notification (e.g. letter or e-mail) of program completion, or the expiry date on your study permit (whichever comes first)

But on my study permit the expiry date is longer that 90 days after my program completion?

Your study permit still expires 90 days after program completion unless you’ve been accepted into another program starting within 150 days.

1-90 days

• Your SP remains valid

• You can work as soon as you apply for PGWP, you don’t have to wait until you get physical PGWP

91-180 days• If you want to stay in Canada

you must change status to visitor before SP expires or restore status (this costs $) before you apply for PGWP

• Loss of ability to work legally while waiting for PGWP

• You can go back home until you get PGWP, or re-enter Canada as visitor and wait until your PGWP is processed. You need valid visa to re-enter Canada if from a visa-required country.

Conclusion: Best to apply within 90 days (in most cases simpler, cheaper, allows work and less chance of things going wrong)

• Graduates can apply online or by paper• Inside Canada or outside of Canada

Inside Canada Outside Canada

You can apply inside Canada and wait in Canada for PGWP or apply, travel and then come back with valid TRV (entry visa)

A TRV will be issued automatically if you apply outside Canada

Note: If you apply within Canada a TRV is not issued with your PGWP application. So if you have expired TRV wait until you get PGWP and then apply for TRV. You need a valid TRV to get back into Canada if from a visa-required country.

When travelling be sure to have proof of PGWP application saved on your phone or printed in your carry on bag in case you’re questioned re-entering Canada

Length of the WP usually =length of Program 1 yr program=1 year PGWP2+yr pr0gram=3 year PGWP 1 yr program + 1 year program= 2 or 3 year PGWP16-23 month intensive Masters or doctoral program=2-3 year WPNOTE: There is no guarantee of PGWP length. This math shows general guidelines. Immigration will also consider time actually spent studying. PGWP cannot be issued longer than passport expiry date.

Duration of studies (time actually spent studying)

On-line courses Study outside Canada

If the duration of studies is shorter than the duration of the program, the PGWP may be issued for the duration of studies

On-line courses taken outside Canada do NOT count towards PGWP length

The length of the PGWP is based on the length of time student studied in Canada

PDDB

1 yr

Waiting time up to 9 months

Student can work up to 150 days while waiting to connect – NEW.Catch in this case student must change status to Visitor after 150 days

MBA

Qualifying for up to 3 year Post Graduation Work Permit can be obtained by cumulating two degrees/credentials. Example, PDDB (1 yr) + MBA (16-18 months)= 3 yr WPNote: 2 one-year programs may only lead to 2 year PGWP, but the officer may also grant a 3 year work permit

• Valid Passport• Valid study permit if you want to work after

applying for PGWP, but before you get it• Letter of Graduation from VIU and Official

Transcript• Apply within 90 days of program completion• Online or by paper • Fees $155 for processing WP, $100 for open WP

fee =$255

• Student must cease any work once completed his/her studies on Study Permit

• As soon as the graduate applies for PGWP the student can work on a FULL time basis so long as applied while study permit valid

• The Study Permit will be INVALID after 90 days of completing the program of studies

• Work between final assignment/exam until official program completion =LEGAL (20hrs max)

• Work after program completion and before you apply for PGWP=ILLEGAL

• Work after applied for PGWP=LEGAL if you applied while study permit still valid

Can I keep working on my study permit (20hrs a week) after I’ve completed my program and before I apply for my PGWP?

No, work after notification of program completion and before applying for PGWP is illegal.

I know have 180 days to apply for my Post-Grad work permit, so can I work for 6 months after I graduate on my study permit and then get more work time once I apply for my PGWP?

No, you cannot work after program completion until you apply for PGWP

Okay, I don’t want to work, but can I just hang out in Canada and apply for my PGWP within 180 days?

Not that simple. You can remain in Canada with valid student status for 90 days after program completion. Before the 90 days expires, if you haven’t already applied for PGWP, you would have to apply to change your status to visitor so that you’d have a valid status when you apply for PGWP or you can return home until you get your PGWP. If your study permit expires sooner that 90 days, you’d have to apply for PGWP or change status to visitor before it expires.

What should I do if I want to keep working continuously after I complete my program?

Apply for your Post Grad Work Permit as soon as possible after program completion. You can’t work until you apply for PGWP. The less time between program completion and applying for PGWP=less no-work time

Once a student receives a PGWP, their status changes. They become Workers & no longer eligible for VIU’s immigration or other services.

Once applied for PGWP Student in transition to Worker status. Transition waiting time is legal status & can last up to 5 months which will add extra to your PGWP legally. During this time students can work FULL time. It is counted for PR status.

• If your Employer did not ask for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) you are working illegally in Canada.

• If you are working illegally you are not protected by the Employment Standards Act of BC, or Work Safe BC .

• You & Your Employer are breaking Employment Income Tax Law.• Consequences of such illegal work may be severe: if you have an

accident on the job site, you may not have legal rights to claim compensation, even if you were working in unsafe conditions.

• Your Employer may not pay your work hours in full or may not pay you the minimum wage in BC which is $12.65. As of June 1st, 2019 minimum wage will be $13.85

Reference: Working in BC, Your Legal Rights & Responsibilities (Peoples Law School)

Median income for Families in Nanaimo was $60,070 in 2016

Median hourly pay $15-18

$12.65Min. pay

As of June 1st, 2019 will be $13.85

• By obeying the laws & regulations in Canada, you will lay a solid foundation for your future

• You will qualify for PGWP if you successfully graduate from your program, and meet other PGWP requirements

• The legal system of Canada will protect you from the risk of being abused or exploited

• The primary intention of the student is to STUDY

• Working more than the Study Permit “work authorization” allows is ILLEGAL

Federal Economic

Federal Skilled Worker

Canadian Experience

Class

Federal Skilled Trades

ProvincialEconomic

Int’l Graduate

Int’l Post Graduate

Job offer NOT

required

Job offer required

Entry Level & Semi-skilled

application by paper only

• O, A, B – level jobs qualify you for the Immigration Programs:

• O – level jobs are supervisory roles • A – level jobs require university degree• B – level jobs require college degree, certificates

of Apprenticeship (Cooks, Cabinet makers) • C, D – level jobs require high school graduation.• O, A,B – level jobs are high skill jobs• C, D – semi and low skilled jobs. If your job in this

level ask Your Employer – Career Progression Letter

NOC Type of job

NOC 0 Management

NOC A Professional (usually requires universityeducation)

NOC B Technical jobs and skilled trades (generally require college and/or apprenticeship

NOC C Semi-skilled (high-school or certificate)

NOC D Entry-level (on-the-job training)

How to read NOC codesNOC 0 level jobs: 0 is first digitNOC A level jobs: 0 or 1 is 2nd

digitNOC B level jobs: 2 or 3 is 2nd

digit

Examples:1241-Admin. Assistant=B1111-Accountant=A6322-Cook=B

25

Federal EE

Met the criteria for: FSW or CEC or FST

Created EE Profile

Invitation to Apply for

PR

PR approved or

refused

IELTS G result, Funds, education

assessment

Provincial EEBC

Created Federal EE

profile

Eligible for BC PNP

Created Profile

Invitation to Apply

Provincial Nomination -600 points

Invitation to apply for PR

PR approved or

refused

• Graduate students must meet one of the Federal Immigration Programs eligibility criteria in order to create an Express Entry Profile.

• Graduates cannot create Provincial BC Express Entry profile without having Federal Express Entry profile.

• 1 Year education in Canada (DLI) – 15, 2 yr -30 bonus points.

Complete your

studies

Gain 1 yr or more work experience (unless you have from elsewhere)

Comprehensive Ranking System

(CRS) tool: skilled immigrants (Express

Entry)

Create EE –Federal Profile

Job bank

If received Invitation to

Apply (ITA) -60 days

IRCC application for

PR

Decision on your

Application

Permanent Resident

• Gaps in study• Illegal work • Time spent outside Canada• Poor grades suggesting illegal work or not

“actively pursuing studies”

Application guide: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5580-applying-work-permit-student-guide.html

PGWP rules: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/study-permits/post-graduation-work-permit-program.html/