- Andrew Carvajal
Government extends PGWP eligibility for fall 2020 courses moved to online format
On May 14, the Canadian government announced further measures to mitigate the impact of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the lives of international students.
Back in April, the government announced that students who had been forced to switch from in-person courses to online learning for their May and June sessions, would not find their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility jeopardized. This directive has now been extended to students whose fall 2020 courses will be online due to COVID-19.
Normally, PGWP rules limit a student's ability to pursue online programs, from inside or outside Canada, and the time spent studying outside Canada is deducted from the length of the PGWP.
Under the new guidance, the fact that a student has to pursue studies online in the fall semester will not impact their eligibility for a PGWP, as long they meet all other program requirements.
More importantly, students who are outside the country due to COVID-19 travel restrictions may begin their classes and complete up to 50% of their program via distance learning, if they cannot travel to Canada sooner. The students must have a study permit or have been approved for a study permit, however, and the time spent studying abroad, up to December 31, 2020, will not be deducted from the length of a future PGWP.
Read the government announcement here.
Desloges Law Group is a Toronto law firm specializing in all types of Canadian immigration law, administrative law and civil litigation. www.desloges.ca
