Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the information and opinions here.
I am in the similar situation.
I am now holding a 3-year PGWP and working now. But I wish I could attend a full-time master program, and simultaneously working as full-time.
I know that I need a study permit again.
ASSUMING that the study permit is granted and the work permit is NOT invalidated,
1, could my full-time working experience PRIOR to my master program (roughly 1 year) be used in "Comprehenasive Ranking System (CRS) skilled immigrants (Express Entry)" score calculation
2, could my full-time working experience DURING my full-time master program be used in "Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) skilled immigrants (Express Entry)" score calculation
3, could my MASTER degree be used in "Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) skilled immigrants (Express Entry)" score calculation, instead of using a BACHELOR degree.
Thanks a lot
For your question, it depends on what program you are going to use. It is a YES and NO question.
For CEC, it will not count at all if you are a
full-time student, make sure if your school considers you are a full-time student or not.
But you may be able to use it for FSW, please check the FSW program requirements.
As policy may change from time to time, please make sure you check all the reference links below and read all the details, and get the update-to-date information.
For Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Self-employment and
work experience gained while you were a full-time student (even if you were on a co-op work term)
doesn’t count towards the minimum requirements for this program.
Quoted from
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/eligibility/canadian-experience-class.html
Student work experience
doesn’t count towards the minimum requirements for the
Canadian Experience Class or
Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Quoted From
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=394&top=29
Any period of employment when the applicant was engaged in full-time study will not be included in calculating the period of qualifying work experience (e.g., work experience gained through co-op work permits, off-campus work permits while a full-time student and on-campus work permits). [
R87.1(3)(a)]. Officers should verify the work permit information in GCMS.
Quoted From
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/permanent-residence/economic-classes/experience/qualifying-work-experience.html
Are you a full-time or part-time student?
Full-time versus part-time studies
The definition of full-time or part-time varies depending on the educational institution. A study permit may be issued whether or not the student’s studies are on a full-time or part-time basis (i.e., the condition that study permit holders must actively pursue studies does not require them to be enrolled on a full-time basis), as long as they are enrolled at a
designated learning institution. However, the student must have a full-time status in order to work on or off campus.
Quoted From
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/study-permits/other-considerations.html?fbclid=IwAR3fuMQfZVWdCLSKEup-HgtqFD_jpyC5W9bxJWRDPZUAYgHdR8L5KqV-h4Q
Also 1 exception for here NOC 4012 – Post-secondary teaching and research assistants
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=855&top=6
From my point of view using NOC 4012, you need to gain 1-year full-time work experience or equal to 1560 hours part-time.
Does the one year of work experience to qualify under the Canadian Experience Class include non-paid employment? Is there a minimum wage requirement for qualifying employment?
Non-paid employment does not qualify under the Canadian Experience Class. You must have been paid a wage (or earned a commission) but there is no minimum wage requirement for your qualifying work experience.
Full-time work experience means working at least 30 paid hours per week. To qualify, you must have skilled work experience, meaning work in occupations listed at NOC Skill Type 0 (managerial), or NOC Skill Level A (professional occupations) or NOC skill Level B (technical and trade occupations).
Quote From
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=665&top=29
However,
For Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
Student work experience gained while you were studying
in Canada or abroad counts towards the
minimum requirements for the
Federal Skilled Worker Program if the work:
This includes co-op terms and apprenticeships.
Quoted From
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=394&top=29
Also, if you want to check more detail for FSWP, you can read the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
75
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-2002-227/page-17.html#h-686674
Also, reference to if it is allowed working off-campus.
Who can’t work off campus
You
can’t work off campus
without a work permit if
any of these situations apply to you:
- your study permit says you aren’t authorized to work off campus while you study
- you’re only enrolled in an English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL) program
- you’re only taking general interest courses
- you’re only taking courses required to be accepted into a full-time program
- your situation changes and you no longer meet all of the requirements to work off campus
If any of these situations apply to you, and you want to work while studying in Canada, you need to
apply for a work permit.
If you already applied for a work permit
You can work full-time if you meet
all of these requirements:
- You were already able to work off campus during your studies
- You applied for a work permit or post-graduation work permit (PGWP) before your study permit expired
- You’re waiting for a decision on your work permit application
Quoted from
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/work-off-campus.html
Also, you should apply for a study permit for more than 6 months program.
Foreign nationals may enter Canada or remain in Canada without a study permit to attend a course or program of study of 6 months’ duration or less [
R188(1)(c)]
Quoted from
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/study-permits/who-needs-study-permit.html
==================================================
Anything below is not quoted, please make sure you call IRCC to confirm yourself.
I called IRCC, the IRCC agent said a new study permit will not invalidate your PGWP, and I can apply for a study permit whiling having PGWP
Please make sure you call IRCC yourself to confirm. Also, make sure the conditions stated on your permits.
In my new study permit has a regulation
186 (f), (v), (w) but the regulation stated when "No permit required" while study. If I have a PGWP permit, I think I don't void the 186 regulation.
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-2002-227/section-186.html
In my PGWP, it has a condition states that not allow attending any education unless authorized. So, from the quoted above, it is not authorized to study without a study permit if the course or program is more than 6 months.
