Good News: Now work permit holders will also be allowed to study in Canada

Chandigarh (Best Hindu News): Work permit holders in Canada will now be able to study at the same time. These changes have been made temporarily in the rules for three years. Those studying in colleges will not need a separate study permit for the duration of the work permit. The Canadian government on Tuesday introduced a public policy that would be beneficial to all immigrants, including Indians, to boost their career, job and permanent residency prospects.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said, “Every year, thousands of temporary foreign workers bring their skills to Canada, helping to drive our economy and fill critical labor market gaps. While they play a vital role in Canada’s prosperity, foreign workers sometimes face barriers to finding study programs in which they can enroll to pursue their dreams and create new opportunities. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser announced a new temporary measure that will see no limit on the duration of study programmes. Also temporary foreign workers can enroll without a study permit.

With immediate effect, foreign workers will have the opportunity to receive additional training and education that can help them in their careers. Prior to this change, foreign workers could study while working, but only in programs of six months or less. For longer programmes, they had to apply for a separate study permit. This has been a deterrent for those who wanted to study further and get more training.

With this new three-year temporary measure, foreign workers can study full-time or part-time as long as their work permit is valid. There is no restriction on the duration of the programme. The temporary measure applies to those who have a valid work permit or who have submitted an application to renew their work permit on or before June 7, and are authorized to work. If a foreign worker wishes to study for a period longer than the duration of his work permit, he must apply for a study permit.

Immigration accounts for almost all of Canada’s labor force growth. About 75 percent of Canada’s population growth comes from immigration, mostly in the economic category. By 2036, 30 percent of Canada’s population will be immigrants, up from 20.7 percent in 2011. However, this temporary public policy may help more foreign nationals increase the likelihood that they will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry. For example, candidates may be able to increase their CRS score by achieving a higher level of education or by gaining qualifying work experience while studying part-time.