Studying in Canada has long been a top choice for international students. The nation's welcoming policies and tolerance for international students are among the many excellent explanations for this trend's increasing popularity.
The Canadian government has recently announced revised requirements to better protect international students, keeping up with the latest announcements and measures about the nation's International Student Program and curbing fraudulent practices.
This news update is relevant to you if you intend to study in Canada in 2024. Continue reading to learn more about Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) most recent announcements.
Updated Living Expenses for Study Permit Applicants
Mr. Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has announced a significant change in the financial requirement in order to make sure that international students are financially prepared for life in Canada and can concentrate entirely on their higher education. The amount, which was initially set at CAD $10,000 in the early 2000s, is being adjusted in light of the notable rise in living expenses. As a result, the cost-of-living requirement for applicants seeking study permits has been revised to $20,635 as of January 1, 2024.
The low-income cut-off (LICO) will be updated annually by Statistics Canada, which will also affect this revised financial requirement threshold. For the time being, living expenses of $20,635 (representing 75% of LICO) will be sufficient to allow international students to live comfortably in Canada. Students must also demonstrate the cost of their first year's tuition and transportation. All new study permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2024, will be subject to this revised cost. Furthermore, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) applications will be subject to this new financial guideline as well.
Updates on the 3 Temporary International Student Policies
Apart from the modified cost-of-living threshold, Minister Miller has also made official announcements regarding three interim policies that affect international students. These are the updates you need to be aware of, as these policies were destined to expire at the end of 2023.
Prolonged Exclusivity on the Weekly 20-Hour Cap
International students will be exempt from the 20-hour weekly cap on off-campus work if they are currently residing in Canada and have applied for a study permit by December 7, 2023. Due to the extension of this waiver until April 30, 2024, international students will be able to work more than 20 hours per week during their semesters.
Updated Distance Learning Facilitation Measure
The Distance Learning Facilitation Measure has been updated to enable students to apply online study time toward their prospective post-graduation work permit. You qualify for this extension if your study program begins before September 1, 2024. Please take note that if your program starts on or after this date, this will not apply.
No Additional Extension of Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs)
A temporary policy was announced three times, offering an additional 18 months of work permit to those with a post-graduation work permit, in recognition of the labor market disruptions that occurred in the nation during the pandemic and the post-pandemic recovery. Applicants may still do so if they have a post-graduation work permit that expires on December 31, 2023. Nevertheless, there will be no more extensions for this temporary policy.
Therefore, you need to start applying as soon as possible for the upcoming academic year if you are an international student planning to further your education in Canada. This is the perfect time for you to get professional help if these updates are making you wonder a lot. KC's Canada experts can answer all of your questions about study permits in Canada. In addition to helping you navigate these updates, our professionals offer complete end-to-end support for your goals of studying abroad.
Thus, get in touch with our staff right now to streamline your Canadian study process.
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