Tuesday, April 22, 2008

NEW RULES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDEN T EMPLOYMENT

'Bold' new rules will help international students qualify for work permits

ROBERT MATAS

April 22, 2008

VANCOUVER -- International students who want to stay in Canada after completing their studies will have an easier time obtaining work permits under new rules unveiled yesterday by Immigration Minister Diane Finley.

In a move described as "bold" by a University of British Columbia official, Ms. Finley announced that students will no longer need a job offer to apply for a work permit.

Also, the new rules will allow students to remain in Canada for up to three years. Previously, foreign students could receive a one-year permit for a job in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal, and a two-year permit if they were willing to work elsewhere in the country.

The changes will help create a pool of people with work experience who will find it easier to apply to immigrate to Canada, Ms. Finley said in a news release announcing the changes. "The government of Canada wants more foreign students to choose Canada and we want to help them succeed," she stated.

Michelle Suderman, associate director of international student development at UBC, said the federal government is eliminating one of the most daunting hurdles facing students who come to Canada to study.

Students have been required to find a job in their field of studies at the appropriate level and apply for a permit within 90 days of graduating. Like many Canadian students, international students often could not meet that requirement, she said in an interview.

"This will put Canada ahead every other country in the world," Ms. Suderman said, adding that international students will see the changes as a sign of Canada's openness to immigration.

"This is going to be significant to a number of students who will feel differently about Canada because of this announcement."

About 11,000 of the 64,000 international students in Canada received work permits last year. Almost one-half of the work permits were issued to students in Ontario and about one third were for students in British Columbia and Alberta. Two years ago, the government had issued only 6,200 work permits for international students.

The changes are part of an initiative announced last year to allow specified temporary foreign workers, and international students with Canadian degrees and work experience to apply for permanent-resident status without having to leave Canada. They can apply to stay permanently after one year of work experience in a managerial, professional or technical position.

The shift in policy on work permits for international students is not part of the controversial changes now being debated in Parliament that are intended to speed immigration for people with skills needed in Canada. Under proposed legislative changes, immigration offices would no longer be required to process all new applications from skilled workers. The immigration minister would issue instructions designating skills required by employers, allowing immigration offices to speed up the process for people with the designated skills.

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