Studying for 1 year -> WP for 3 years afterwards - Possible?

[mlatimudan]

Hi everyone

After learning that it is possible to get a work permit which is valid not only for the period of study (specifically during a 1 year post bachelors program) but for a year after graduation - I was amazed. After learning that using some sort of "trickery" or should I say legal ingenuity, it's possible to extend it to 3 years after graduation I was shocked! However, I am a bit confused with regard to the "trickery".

So, as I understood it:

1. I should apply to a university to study in a full time 1 year program (I have a BA already, not from a Canadian Uni) starting in the spring term.

2. As soon as my term starts I am eligible to work 20h (or 50%) per week off campus and 40h (or 100%) on campus during the term, and 40h (or 100%) during holidays on/off campus.

3. After my spring term ends sometime in April/May, I will have holidays until September during which I can work 100% of the time anywhere.

--- now this is the part that I'm unclear with:

4. In September, at the start of the Autumn term I should apply for an additional semester of study (making my 1 year program essentially a 1.5 year program) and finish my study accordingly. This would then entitle me to receive a work permit for 3 years.




Can you please clarify on whether or not I got my facts straight? And if not could you please make me understand how this "system" works?

Thank you so much in advance!!

 

[dukhi]

on campus there is not limit of hours as far as i know

 

[scylla]

CIC has not changed the rules yet with regards to off campus work permits. You need to complete six months of studies in Canada before you can qualify for an off campus work permit. You can start working on campus immediately. On campus jobs are few and difficult to find.

If you work 40 hours a week while you are studying then you will likely fail the course you are taking and won't qualify for a post graduate work permit.

1.5 years of study will get you a 1.5 year post graduate work permit (provided you actually graduate).

 

[Regina]

making my 1 year program essentially a 1.5 year program) and finish my study accordingly. This would then entitle me to receive a work permit for 3 years.

You are wrong. They will give you PGWP according to the length of you 1 year program. The thing is, if you apply for a student visa for a 2 yr program but finished in 1,5 you still get a 3 yr PGWP; however, if you study slowly and extend your student visa of 1 year to another 6 months (jr even another year), you still will get PGWP only for ONE YEAR.

 

[ankurkool17]

Well it is a tricky part. Many people got 3 years work permit after the graduating 1 year course followed by a year/semester making it 2/1.5 years of study the same case like you're saying. But if and only if you have credit hours of 3 years study I.e 57 to 60.
Then there is a possibility to get 3 years PGWP.

Good luck !

 

[mlatimudan]

Ok, lets put aside for the moment the fact that the more you work the slimmer are your chances of actually graduating.

1. So, I have to wait 6 months to legally work off campus, right?

2. The study program time is not measured in days/months, but rather in credit hours, right?

If 2 => what is the minimum amount of credit hours for a 3 year PGWP? 57 as ankurkool17 mentioned or less?

Also, if 2 => are the 6 months required for an off campus work permit also measured in credit hours or actual months?

 

[ankurkool17]

The credits hours should be between 57 to 60.As I already mentioned.

No, 6 months means 6 months. They are measured in actual months.


Good luck!

 

[mlatimudan]

Thanks ankurkool17, this helped. A lot!!

And to bug you even more Is the time spent on a study visa counted towards the time necessary to get PR status? I know that for the Working Holiday Program it isn't counted (well at least I think it isn't).

 

[singh-ak]

How can we check the credit hours of a course? Not able to find on the college website

 

[scylla]

Thanks ankurkool17, this helped. A lot!!

And to bug you even more Is the time spent on a study visa counted towards the time necessary to get PR status? I know that for the Working Holiday Program it isn't counted (well at least I think it isn't).

Your question isn't clear. If you are asking about the Canadian Experience Class immigration program, then time spend working on the Working Holiday Visa program does count towards CEC - however the time you spend working as a student while you are on a study permit does not.

 

[mlatimudan]

I'm asking for the Working Holiday Program - International Experience Canada.

Thanks for the tip about time spent working as a student not counting towards PR status. Does that apply to all days or are summer holidays (when there are no courses) somehow exempt?

 

[scylla]

I'm asking for the Working Holiday Program - International Experience Canada.

Thanks for the tip about time spent working as a student not counting towards PR status. Does that apply to all days or are summer holidays (when there are no courses) somehow exempt?

Sorry your question is still confusing. "Working Holiday Program - International Experience Canada" is not an immigration program. It's a temporary visa.

Summer holiday work does not count as experience towards applying for PR through the Canadian Experience Class program. Only work experience gained after your schooling is completed counts towards CEC.

 

[scylla]

Just to add - the experience also has to be skilled to count towards CEC - and there are certain occupations that are excluded (e.g. retail supervisor). So you can't just get any job after you graduate and expect to qualify for CEC after a year of full time work experience. It needs to be a skilled job and cannot be on the list of occupations excluded from CEC.

 

[itstime]

No, 6 months means 6 months. They are measured in actual months.

They are meassured in months studied. If you start in september, you can apply for a work permit in march. If you start in january, have your summer break (which doesn't count towards your 6 months), you can apply for your work permit in November.

 

[mlatimudan]

Sorry your question is still confusing. "Working Holiday Program - International Experience Canada" is not an immigration program. It's a temporary visa.

Summer holiday work does not count as experience towards applying for PR through the Canadian Experience Class program. Only work experience gained after your schooling is completed counts towards CEC.

Yes, I am talking about the temporary visa which lasts up to 1 year. Time spent on it in Canada doesn't count towards PR, right?

So, if I understood it correctly, if I were to choose not to work at all during my studies, all of that time would count towards getting a PR? I'm talking just about time (days) not work experience accumulated.