PGWP Switching programs

[KevinXue]

Hey everyone!

I’m an international student in Canada currently enrolled in a 2-year PGWP-eligible Kinesiology diploma at Langara College. I’m considering taking an Leave of absence for about a year to complete a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program, which is not PGWP-eligible, and then return to finish my Kinesiology diploma.

I want to make sure my PGWP eligibility remains intact.

Has anyone here:

1. Taken an authorized leave from a PGWP-eligible program?
2. Studied a non-PGWP-eligible program in between?
3. Successfully returned to complete your original PGWP-eligible program?

If yes, could you share:

• How your school handled the leave?
• Any challenges with IRCC or your study permit?
• Anything you wish you had done differently?

Any advice, tips, or real experiences would be really appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[Naturgrl]

Hey everyone!

I’m an international student in Canada currently enrolled in a 2-year PGWP-eligible Kinesiology diploma at Langara College. I’m considering taking an Leave of absence for about a year to complete a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program, which is not PGWP-eligible, and then return to finish my Kinesiology diploma.

I want to make sure my PGWP eligibility remains intact.

Has anyone here:

1. Taken an authorized leave from a PGWP-eligible program?
2. Studied a non-PGWP-eligible program in between?
3. Successfully returned to complete your original PGWP-eligible program?

If yes, could you share:

• How your school handled the leave?
• Any challenges with IRCC or your study permit?
• Anything you wish you had done differently?

Any advice, tips, or real experiences would be really appreciated!

Thank you!

1. You would need a PAL and study permit for the program. This would invalidate the first permit as you cannot take a year off.
2. You are really dropping the first program, applying for another, completing it and then applying for another study permit to go back to Langara.
3. Finish the first program and then apply for Paramedic program.

 

[KevinXue]

1. You would need a PAL and study permit for the program. This would invalidate the first permit as you cannot take a year off.
2. You are really dropping the first program, applying for another, completing it and then applying for another study permit to go back to Langara.
3. Finish the first program and then apply for Paramedic program.

Since the paramedic program is not PGWP eligible, I would be using one year of my PGWP from the Langara diploma to do the paramedic program? Thanks for the fast response.

 

[Naturgrl]

Since the paramedic program is not PGWP eligible, I would be using one year of my PGWP from the Langara diploma to do the paramedic program? Thanks for the fast response.

So graduate from the Langara program first. Don't take a leave of absence. You will still need new study permit and most likely PAL to study even if not PGWP eligible. So you will still need to show proof of funds and justify costs for another program.