Canada relies heavily on the economic contribution of international students, but the federal government has introduced unfavorable measures for international students, from more proof of living expenses to restoring existing off-campus employment hours.
The Federal Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) will increase the Canadian cost-of-living requirement for a study permit to 20,000 per person starting January 1 next year.
The Immigration Department set it at $10,000 in the early 2000s and has maintained it ever since. However, as the cost of living rises due to rising prices, the financial requirements for international students to receive regular classes in Canada have been raised.
The amount set this time was set at 75% of Canada’s low-income cut-off (LICO). This is lower than the minimum amount one person needs to spend in Canada.
The purpose of this is to prevent international students from being vulnerable or being exploited.
At the same time, a proposal was put forward to extend temporary measures to help international students resolve their financial problems in Canada. The temporary relaxation of measures allowing international students to work 20 hours a week off campus until the end of this year will be extended until April 30 next year. This applies to international students who have already applied and applicants who received a study permit before December 7.
Additionally, if you take classes online, they are recognized as educational hours calculated during the Post-Graduation Work Visa (PGWP) period, if they do not exceed 50% of the total classes. The target is international students who begin classes before September 1st of next year. Recognizing distance learning as an educational period was introduced in 2020 when entering Canada was difficult due to COVID-19. Until the end of August last year, 100% online education was recognized, but the scope was later reduced as entry into Canada became easier again.
Due to a shortage of labor force, an 18-month extension is granted to holders of expired post-graduation work visas. This measure is permitted until December 31 of this year and will not be extended until 2024.
Meanwhile, while Canada announced that it would directly grant admission letters for international students, this time it began accepting changes to the study permit application form.
The Federal Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) has been accepting applications for a new version of a study permit (IMM1294) since December 1. This form is an application form for those wishing to study abroad.
If you are applying through a secure account with the Department of Immigration and Immigration, you must submit your study permit application using this new version of the application form.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Immigration announced that starting December 1, all post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLIs) approved to host international students must have their letters of acceptance from all applicants confirmed by the Ministry of Immigration.