【重大利好】移民部宣布加拿大留学生每周校外打工可超20小时！

While COVID-19 restrictions have been easing throughout Canada for the past several months, many foreign workers and international students are still feeling its effects. In particular, individuals who were on post-graduate work permits over the past two years may have lost opportunities to gain valuable Canadian work experience as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions. In recognition of these lost opportunities and the social, cultural, and economic benefits that international students bring to Canada, the Government of Canada announced new measures allowing certain foreign nationals with expired or expiring post-graduate work permits to apply for extensions of their post-graduate work permits.

Per an August 2, 2022 notice from the Government of Canada, individuals will be able to apply to extend their work permit (or apply for a new work permit) authorizing their work in Canada for up to an additional 18 months if they hold post-graduation work permits (“PGWPs”) that have expired or will expire between September 20, 2021 and December 31, 2022. Foreign nationals in Canada must have maintained their temporary resident status or be eligible for restoration of status to apply for this special measure.

The Government of Canada also released instructions to apply for this open work permit, which must be done on or before December 31, 2022. One key point to highlight is that, while applicants under this special measure are exempt from paying the open work permit holder fee of $100, they must still pay the work permit processing fee of $155.