Important Notes for International Students – Maintaining Student Status

As we start a new school year, we’d like to outline some important notes for international students regarding maintaining student status and the ability to work while studying:

Study permits allow students studying full-time to work off-campus part-time (up to 20 hours/week) during the school year. In addition, students may work full-time during any regularly scheduled breaks (defined by your school’s calendar) but must hold full-time status during the semesters before and after the break.

When students complete their study program, they are no longer able to work based on their study permit status if they are not continuing on with another program as full-time students within 150 days. They may be able to start working after they’ve applied for their work permit.

• On-campus work is not counted towards the off-campus maximum hours worked.
• Student status in Canada expires 90 days from the date on which a student stops studying – even if the expiry date on their study permit comes later.
• In order to qualify for a post-graduation work permit, students must have studied full-time in each semester of their program(s). The only exceptions are for students who only require part-time course load in their final semester or for students who take certain authorized leaves.
• In order to qualify for a post-graduation work permit, a majority of the courses of the program must not be online or distance education. The school and program must be also otherwise qualified for the post-graduation work permit.
• In their recent updates, IRCC has listed a few situations in which students are able to take authorized leaves from their studies for up to a maximum of 150 days. During an authorized leave, students are not permitted to work either on or off-campus.

For more information, check out our video about the new international student policies that were issued earlier this year by IRCC.

To speak with one of our lawyers to discuss your situation, please contact us at (416) 548-9101, or by email at inquiries@lmlawgroup.com

Did you know that Long Mangalji LLP offers free immigration seminars to international students at universities and colleges across Canada? Contact us if you’re interested in attending or to arrange a seminar at your school!

Yours truly,

Long Mangalji LLP