I would like to address the issue of inland international students in Canada who are deprived of the benefit of temporary public policy for PGWP extension. Their work permits are expiring in November and December 2021.

International students are admitted to Canada after a diligent scrutiny. The students have to go through complex immigration process involving significant cost in the terms of time and money. The process of obtaining a study permit is stressful. Once they successfully complete the process and leave their beloved ones back to start a new life in a new country, they are exposed to more hardships including stress of study and work. feeling of homesickness and loneliness, applying for PGWP and finding employment.

Once that is done, they work hard to gain one year experience to become eligible for PR under CEC stream. At present, Immigration Canada has stopped holding CEC draws. The struggle of international students is never-ending. This time the struggle is even harder. Just after surviving the pandemic, they are facing the fear of their status being expired in few days and then returning back to the place they left with the hope to have a better future.

There is a large group of international students who are going out of status due to no CEC draws since mid September 2021. They were also unable to apply for the extension of PGWP due to the technicality of the public policy that specifically kept international students, whose PGWP expires from Nov 28 to Dec 31, 2021, away from the much-needed public policy providing for PGWP extension.

Please note that these students also suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic and now they are going out of status due to no CEC draws and expiring PGWPs. A significant number of international students are not able to gain one year mandatory work experience to apply under CEC stream due to the pandemic and lock-downs extended for months. This is causing stress and hopelessness among the community of international students.Particularly, the students who study for one year and receive one-year PGWP are always denied the benefits. They were intentionally kept out of the TR to PR program. They are eligible to apply for various programs for PR.

International students contribute billions to the GDP in Canada and support hundred thousands of jobs in Canada's middle class. Their contribution to Canadian economy is significant . The young students leave their homes and families behind, invest thousands of dollars and work really hard to build a future in Canada. They study full-time and work part-time with a hope to have a better future.

With a heavy heart, I have to say that all their hard work, investments, aspirations and dreams are coming to a painful end in Nov and Dec 2021.They are being forced to leave the country by the end of this year because their status is expiring. International students are losing hope and faith in the immigration system. The Christmas does not seem to be merry anymore when the dreams of thousands of young brilliant minds are burning to ashes. 

We understand there is a huge backlog created due to Afganistan matter and Covid-19 pandemic. We understand that the system is clogged but that should not be the reason to stop holding the CEC draws and declining the request of thousands of students asking for PGWP extension. We understand that the rule is that PGWP is a one time opportunity. However, the rules that drive thousands of brilliant hard-workers should be reconsidered.

To conclude, international students were highly affected by Covid-19 pandemic. They also suffered stress and depression like everyone else in the world. They lost jobs and opportunities to gain mandatory work experience to become eligible for Permanent Residence streams. Their future is in dark and they are losing hope! The governments around the world tried their best to minimize the impact of the pandemic and stresses of people. Commendable steps were taken for the welfare of various sections and communities of the world. But here is the group of international students who are still seeking help on social media and there are no steps taken yet.

I humbly request the honourable Immigration Minister,Sean Fraser and PM Justin Trudeau to please take immediate steps to help thousands of international students.

The honourable former Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino did a commendable job and we expect the same from you! We need immediate help sir! Our future is on stake and you could take immediate measures to help us all. Please put an end to our worries and sleepless nights we are having due to the stress and continuous worrying! We respectfully request for another public policy for PGWP extension to cover the international students whose PGWPs are expiring in Nov and Dec 2021, and holding big CEC draws to keep the dreams alive.

We look forward to hearing about immediate measures soon!

Thank you.