The Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Marc Miller, has announced significant changes affecting international students in Canada. Effective June 21, 2024, international students will no longer be able to obtain post-graduation work permits (PGWP) at the port of entry, a practice commonly known as flagpoling. Instead, students must apply for their initial PGWP or extensions from within Canada and await processing. For more details, visit Canadian Visa Lawyer.
This policy shift is the latest in a series of changes impacting international students. In December 2023, the IRCC increased the cost-of-living requirement for students from $10,000 to $20,635. Additionally, restrictions were placed on the number of international students admitted each year, and the allowable work hours for students were reduced from full-time to 24 hours per week. These measures have collectively placed a significant burden on international students.
The decision to end flagpoling is aimed at improving the fairness of the application process. However, this change only applies to international students seeking PGWPs, while other work permits can still be applied for at the border. PGWPs account for just one-fifth of all flagpole applications, making this change relatively minor in the overall volume of border applications. To read more about the language of this policy, visit Canada Immigration News.
Further complicating the situation, the IRCC has limited the hours for applying for work permits at major ports of entry to Mondays through Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. These changes aim to facilitate international trade and reduce border traffic, but they also add another layer of complexity for international students.
The Minister also mentioned efforts to speed up processing times as part of measures to address the elimination of flagpoling. However, the current posted processing time for a work permit application from within Canada is 99 days, nearly three and a half months. Such delays can have serious consequences for applicants, including loss of employment, medical coverage, Social Insurance Numbers, and even access to public schools for their children.
International students in Canada have faced numerous challenges over the past year, being blamed for issues such as overcrowded post-secondary institutions, increased use of food banks, and the housing shortage. These new policies may deter prospective students from choosing Canada for their education, potentially impacting the Canadian economy.
