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Working while studying in Canada |
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Studying in Canada at the post-secondary level can be a very expensive
proposition and a question I am frequently asked is whether a foreign
student may work off campus while studying in Canada.
 Until recently, my answer was usually no. However, on April 27, 2006, Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) announced that foreign students who meet certain requirements, are able to work off of campus. This new initiative is called the Off-Campus Work Permit Program, and some foreign students are able to apply for work permits under this program.
Not all foreign students are eligible for this program. The student must have a valid study permit, must have studied full time at an eligible school for at least six months out of the 12-month period before they apply, must maintain a satisfactory academic record, must be enrolled in an academic program of study and must comply with all conditions of their study permit and work permit, if one is granted. If the student is not enrolled at a participating school, they are not eligible for the program and the student must be studying at a publicly funded post-secondary school.
All exchange students, guest students and students enrolled in ESL and FSL programs are not eligible for the program. Students who have received awards or scholarships from the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, the Government of Canada awards Program or CIDA and students who have not complied with the conditions of their work or study permits in the past are also not eligible for the program.
As long as the foreign student remains in a full time program of study and continues to receive good grades, they will be allowed to participate in the program. A work permit under this program is good for the same amount of time as the student’s study permit, as long as all conditions are being met.
If a student is eligible for the program, they can start applying for jobs rights away, but please be aware that they cannot start working until they have received their work permit, which usually takes approximately four to six weeks to get. A student must also be aware of certain restrictions that may be attached to some jobs. For example, in certain jobs the student may be required to undergo a medical examination.
How many hours can a foreign student work off of campus under this program? Once the student has received an Off-Campus Work Permit, they may work up to 20 hours while classes are in session. During scheduled school breaks, such as summer holidays, Christmas break or reading week, the student may work full time hours. It is very important to remember however, that in order to keep their work permit, the student must remain in a full time course of studies and must maintain a satisfactory academic record.
A student whose program involves a co-op placement or internship doesn’t need to worry about applying for this program as well. The work permit required for a co-op or internship is not the same as the off-campus work permit, however as long as a student meets all eligibility requirements, they can hold more than one work permit.
If you are considering this program and have any questions about your eligibility, please feel free to contact me with your questions or check out the CIC web site for all application requirements.
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