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toussaint

Member
Jul 17, 2014
17
11
Hello,

I am a US citizen currently in Canada with a work permit from SWAP, which is a part of the IEC initiative. I've also been accepted to a Master's program at Simon Fraser University, and have the intent to switch from a work permit to a study permit in August.

Does anybody have any sense of if this is possible? I am aware that I will surrender my work permit upon acquiring a study permit. As a US citizen, I can apply for a study permit and do this at the border-- Should I expect complications in this process?

As a slight extension of this question, I am curious about the issue of timing. I want to continue working until late August, so that I can save as much as I can to prepare for my studies. New regulations that took effect June 1st of this year indicate that with a study permit you can now work without a work permit, provided that it's less than 20 hours per week, but it is okay to work full time "during scheduled breaks," which specifically includes summer. I've already resigned my job effective August 25th, and do not intend to work off campus during my program-- If I were to change permits now, would I be able to continue working full time until that date, given that this is a "scheduled break?" I am confused on this point because I will not have actually started my studies at that point.

Any help would be appreciated- I'm really quite anxious and don't want any surprises at the border! ???
 
Hi,


toussaint said:
Hello,

I am a US citizen currently in Canada with a work permit from SWAP, which is a part of the IEC initiative. I've also been accepted to a Master's program at Simon Fraser University, and have the intent to switch from a work permit to a study permit in August.

Does anybody have any sense of if this is possible? I am aware that I will surrender my work permit upon acquiring a study permit. As a US citizen, I can apply for a study permit and do this at the border-- Should I expect complications in this process?

As a slight extension of this question, I am curious about the issue of timing. I want to continue working until late August, so that I can save as much as I can to prepare for my studies. New regulations that took effect June 1st of this year indicate that with a study permit you can now work without a work permit, provided that it's less than 20 hours per week, but it is okay to work full time "during scheduled breaks," which specifically includes summer. I've already resigned my job effective August 25th, and do not intend to work off campus during my program-- If I were to change permits now, would I be able to continue working full time until that date, given that this is a "scheduled break?" I am confused on this point because I will not have actually started my studies at that point.

Any help would be appreciated- I'm really quite anxious and don't want any surprises at the border! ???


With study permit, you can work only if you are 'registered' into the program (not just admitted).
 
J5M said:
Hi,



With study permit, you can work only if you are 'registered' into the program (not just admitted).

Agreed. Once you are a study permit holder, you won't be able to start working until your classes start in September. And then you will be limited to 20 hours per week.