the CanadaVisa Team - 22 July, 2015
Since its inception as a pilot project in 2003, the Off-Campus Work Permit Program has only been available to international students at public Canadianuniversities and colleges. Nationally launched in April 2006, the initiative has already benefited over 8,300 international students by giving themCanadian work experience and financial independence.
The government of Canada has now announced a pilot project to expand the program to internationalstudents at selected private institutions as well. The project is being implemented on a province-by-province basis, with Alberta and Manitoba as the firstprovinces to sign on.
To qualify for an off-campus work permit, international students must have a validstudy permitand have studied full-time for at least six of the previous 12 months in an eligible institution and in a qualifying program. The students must be insatisfactory academic standing and must continue to fulfill the terms of their study permits. Those who qualify will be able to work off-campus for up to20 hours per week during the school term and full-time during school breaks.
Diane McGifford, Manitoba Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy noted that the expansion of the program "will mean more international students willbring their skills, knowledge and their own distinct perspectives to our workplaces." The President of Concordia University College in Alberta added thatthe program "provides significant work and career opportunities that will benefit both the students themselves and the Canadian economy, to which they can now contribute."
