Post Grad Work Permits

1. Post Grad Work Permits Presentation on the process for obtaining a Post Graduate Work Permit for International Students at Wilfrid Laurier University Presenter: Anna Done Choudhury

2. Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) • Allows qualifying international students to obtain an open work permit for up to three years following graduation from WLU; • Allows graduates to remain in Canada and obtain work experience necessary to qualify for permanent residence in the Canadian Experience Class; • Enables graduates to obtain valuable Canadian work experience; • Allows students to change employers without advising CIC . Program Overview - Eligibility and Application Process

3. Who Can Apply? To be eligible for an Off-Campus Work Permit, you must: • have studied full time in Canada and you must have completed a program of study that lasted at least eight months; • have completed all the academic requirements to graduate; • You must submit your application for a work permit within 90 days, starting from the day when your final marks are issued, or within 90 days from when you receive a formal written notification of graduation from the institution, whichever comes first; • You must have a valid study permit when you apply for the work permit; • If you currently hold a valid Off-campus work permit or Co-op work permit and both the WP and your SP are valid, you may work full time while your PGWP is being processed. Program Overview - Eligibility and Application Process

4. Who Cannot Apply? Students who fall into the following situations cannot apply for the Post Graduate Work Permit: • If your course of study is less than eight months long; • If you are a Participant in the following programs: • Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) • Government of Canada Awards Program funded by DFAIT • Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) programs • Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada-Chile • Canada-China Scholars Exchanges Program • Organization of American States Fellowships Program • distance learning program either from abroad or from within Canada • If you have previously been issued a Post-Graduation Work Permit following any other program of study. Program Overview - Eligibility and Application Process

5. Important Facts to Remember • You cannot apply for your Post Graduate Work Permit until all your degree requirements have been met; • You must apply within the 90 day period after your final marks are issued and your study permit must be valid; • If you have a valid OCWP, you may begin your post graduate work while your PGWP application is being processed; • If you have already passed an immigration medical exam, you may work in any type of job; • If you intend to work in an occupation in which the protection of public health is essential, or as an agricultural worker, you must pass an immigration medical exam. Examples of these are: workers in health services fields; teachers of primary or secondary schools or other workers coming into contact with small children; domestic workers or live-in caregivers; workers who provide in-home care. Program Overview - Eligibility and Application Process

6. Application Process –Documents The documents you need for the application as are follows: • CIC Forms completed in full and signed as required;Application to Change Conditions, Extend Stay or Remain in Canada (IMM1249);Document Checklist (IMM5583);If required, Use of a Representative (IMM5476) and/or Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union(IMM5409); • Photocopy of information page from your passport, as well as photocopy of entry stamp and any other pages which have been marked; • Original letter from WLU indicating that all course requirements have been met and graduation is expected; • Photocopy of your valid study permit; • Receipt for fee paid, which is $150.00, either online or at bank. Program Overview - Eligibility and Application Process

7. Submitting the Application: • Make sure you have included all the documents required, and submit the application, either by courier or ExpressPost, to: Citizenship and Immigration - Work PermitCPC-Vegreville6212 - 55th Avenue, Unit 555*Vegreville, ABT9C 1X6 Make sure to write your name and address at the top left-hand corner of the envelope. * This may change, please refer to CIC website. Program Overview - Eligibility and Application Process

8. Additional Information: If you are working in Ontario, you will now be eligible for provincial health coverage under the OHIP plan. In order to obtain your OHIP card you must obtain a letter from your employer indicating that you will be working full time for more than six months, in addition to proof of residence in Ontario and your work permit, and contact the nearest office, which in Kitchener-Waterloo, is as follows: 1400 Weber Street East, Unit B2  N2A 3Z8(between Fergus Ave. and Kinzie Ave., across from Highway Centre - Zehrs)Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.,Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Program Overview - Eligibility and Application Process

9. Submitting the Application to Buffalo or another visa post outside Canada: • PGWP applicants now have the option to apply to the Canadian Consulate in Buffalo for a work permit, or to the visa post that serves your country of residence or nationality • The advantage to this is that you will be issued a new visa once the work permit is approved, however you will not receive your permit until you present yourself at a port of entry • For information visit the Buffalo CIC website: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/buffalo/ You need to complete the application for a work permit. You do not need to have a job offer. Program Overview - Eligibility and Application Process