International students make significant contributions to the Canadian economy, with over $22.3 billion per year. As shared by Immigration Minister Marc Miller, Canada is set to host almost 900,000 international students in 2024. According to the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE) International Student Survey conducted in 2021, more than 60% of international students plan to apply for permanent residence in Canada. International students understand that no country in the world guarantees Permanent Residency to all the students. However, given the financial investments and efforts, there should be a pathway to achieve Permanent for eligible International graduates.

This campaign is to support the current international students and Post Graduate Work Permit holders in Canada with the below changes to the existing policies.
1. Provide an extension of an additional 18 months to International Graduates with Post Graduate work permits expiring in 2024.
2. Start Canadian Experience Class Draws to provide permanent residency for international graduates in Canada on PGWP.
3. Provide an Immigration pathway for Post Graduate Work permit holders in Canada with Canadian work experience.
4. Increase the Off-campus work eligibility to 24 hours /week.
5. Stop International student trafficking and multilevel business of subagent international student recruitment model.

Provide an extension of an additional 18 months to International Graduates with Post Graduate work permits expiring in 2024
IRCC started the category-based selection in Express Entry earlier this and since then the CRS has been consistently very high in all the Express Entry draws. The COVID pandemic adversely affected the Canadian job market and international graduates were unable to find jobs and gain Canadian work experience. Undergraduate students and freshers especially have a disadvantage in point-based express entry as they lack overseas work experience and have lower CRS.  Added to this, IRCC has not conducted any Canadian Experience Class draws for more than 2 years now. As such many international graduates have not be able to able to receive PR and their Post Graduate Work permits are expiring.  IRCC has previously introduced three public policies in year 2021, 2022, and 2023 to provide an 18-month extension to Post Graduate Work Permit holders. We request that IRCC to provide a new public policy and support international graduates whose PGWP is expiring in 2024 with an 18-month extension.

Provide an Immigration pathway for Post Graduate Work permit holders in Canada with Canadian work experience.
MOTION-44 PERMANENT RESIDENCY FOR TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS, put forward by MP Randeep Sarai, included a clause to provide a pathway for Permanent Residence for international students, with significant Canadian work experience in sectors with persistent labour shortages. The motion was approved on May 11, 2022, but no new Immigration pathway to support international graduates in Canada was put forward. 
International Graduates on Post Graduate Work permits already possess Canadian education and significant Canadian work experience and deserve a pathway for Permanent Residence.

Start Canadian Experience Class Draws to provide permanent residency for international graduates in Canada on PGWP.
According to the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE) International Student Survey conducted in 2021, more than 60% of international students plan to apply for permanent residence in Canada. Canadian Experience Class is the pathway for International Graduates to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada. International students are eligible to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class after they complete at least one year of Canadian work experience. Previously IRCC used to regularly do Canadian Experience Class draws specifically for international graduates in Canada on Post Graduate Work permit. However there has been an extended pause and the last Canadian Experience Class draw was on 14th Sep, 2021 more than two years ago. 

Increase the Off-campus work eligibility to 24 hours /week.
International students pursuing full-time studies for at least 6 months in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) are eligible to work off-campus for 20 hours/week. However, a temporary public policy announced by Honourable Sean Fraser, Former Minister IRCC removed the cap of 20 hours/week and eligible international students could work full time from 15th November 2022 to 31st December 2023. Many International students are now working 40-60 hours /week, and this has created a serious job crunch. New international students are facing hurdles in finding off-campus jobs. Hundreds of international students have been lining up at job fairs and in spite of extensive efforts they are having difficulties in finding off-campus job opportunities. We request the IRCC not to extend this temporary public policy to ensure that all international students will have equal access to off-campus employment. We further request IRCC to increase the off-campus working hours cap from 20 to 24 hours/week, as most employers have 8-hour shifts.

Stop International student trafficking and multilevel business of subagent international student recruitment model
Jalandhar-based subagent Brijesh Mishra who scammed hundreds of students by providing fake offer letters was arrested by the Canadian Border Services Agency on June 23.  Studying abroad is a life-changing experience and for many international students, this might be their first international travel. Most international students invest their parent’s lifetime savings or take education loans to support their education abroad. They require extensive mentorship and support to ensure success and post-study settlement. Unfortunately, with the recent advent of Pseudo-EdTech aggregators, international student recruitment has become a multilevel business pyramid, especially in India.  Most Colleges/Universities have agreements with just 40-50 partnership agreements for India. However, there are more than 20,000 subagents, and many of them exploit the Canada International student program to "student trafficking". There is absolutely no accountability and no support for international students. The state of Punjab in India is worst affected and many international students fall prey to illegal criminal subagents. 

We also need support to contact your local Canadian Member of Parliament Offices. This is just an online petition and we will ensure to meet every Canadian MP and submit an open letter to support the initiative.
Please join our Instagram Channel / Facebook Group so we can plan and coordinate our efforts to meet the Canadian MP's.
Instagram Channel https://ig.me/j/AbZt40N0I6BY5qW-/
Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/cipstudyabroad1
 
Free consultation with Gautham Kolluri, RCIC for International students and Post Graduate Work Permit holders. Please join our Zoom virtual office Monday-Friday 9 AM-12 PM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9133433001

Let's urge the Government of Canada and IRCC  for the 18-month PGWP extension, review its policies regarding the permanent residence pathway for international students, and ensure the integrity of the Canada International Student Program. Please sign this petition today!