BlogInternational StudentsStudying in CanadaCanadian International Students take note – No more Flagpoling!
It has been a rough year for international students in Canada. Firstly, in December 2023 the Minister of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), The Honorable Marc Miller, increased the cost of living requirement for international students from $10,000 to $20,635. Soon after he imposed a restriction (and reduction) of the number of international students to Canada each year. Then he reduced the number of hours that international students can work while studying full time to 24 hours per week down from full time. He revoked the open spousal work permit for international student spouses at the college or undergraduate level. And this past week on June 21, 2024 he eliminated the option of obtaining a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the port of entry, a process commonly referred to as “flagpoling”. Now an international student applying for an initial PGWP, or an extension will be limited to applying for their permit from within Canada and waiting for it to be processed.
