Super good news for international students (forwarded from Dalhousie ISES )
News ReleaseGovernment of Canada introduces changesto work permits for international students, making Canada moreattractive for skilled individuals Vancouver, April 21, 2008— The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration,today announced changes to work permits for international students whograduate from eligible programs at certain Canadian post-secondaryinstitutions, making it easier to attract foreign students to Canada.
7 O/ G0 m' Y" ?7 _8 [* OEffectiveimmediately, and for the first time, these international students wouldbe able to obtain an open work permit under the Post-Graduation WorkPermit Program, with no restrictions on the type of employment and norequirement for a job offer. In addition, the duration of the workpermit has been extended to three years across the country. Previously,the program only allowed international students to work for one or twoyears, depending on location.9 K! [1 d- V* i: B
“The Government of Canada wantsmore foreign students to choose Canada and we want to help themsucceed,” said Minister Finley. “Open and longer work permits provideinternational students with more opportunities for Canadian workexperience and skills development. This will, in turn, help make Canadaa destination of choice, and help us keep international studentsalready studying in Canada.”8 z4 }) @" s6 c- R* y. N
The increased flexibilityoffered by the expanded program will benefit graduates and employersalike as the program will help international students get importantwork experience while responding to Canada’s labour market needs.Canada will benefit in the long run as the professional experiencegained will help graduates meet the requirements to stay permanently inCanada.
' c+ y9 J! I# q“As we move toward the implementation of the CanadianExperience Class, these changes will help create a pool of individualswho, with work experience, will find it easier to apply to immigrate toCanada,” added Minister Finley. “Our ability to retain internationalgraduates with Canadian qualifications, work experience and familiaritywith Canadian society, will help increase our competitiveness andbenefit Canada as a whole.”
0 N8 m) S4 Q4 {2 {# Q* Y0 B! RThe Post-Graduation Work PermitProgram allows students who have graduated from an eligible program ata post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience.Preliminary 2007 data indicate that 63,673 international students cameto Canada that year, representing a 4.6 percent increase over theprevious year.
