Foreign Students May Get Post-Grad Work Permits After All Following Distance Learning Quarrel

1. Foreign Students May Get Post-Grad Work Permits After All Following Distance Learning Quarrel

2. In a case that may have wider ramifications for certain foreign students in Canada, the Federal Court has ordered Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to reconsider the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) application of a foreign student whose initial application was rejected because he took some of his courses online. The court ruling has given renewed hope to other foreign graduates from Niagara College who have also taken a selection of courses by distance learning. Though these individuals were under the impression that their studies in Canada would make them eligible for a PGWP, they face the prospect of having to leave Canada earlier than planned. The PGWP allows graduates who complete their education in Canada to gain valuable Canadian work experience for up to three years. This open work permit, which allows its bearer to work for a Canadian employer in any sector and in any location in Canada, is often seen as a bridge towards permanent resident status in Canada and, eventually, Canadian citizenship.