Canada is a home to thousands of international students from across the globe. There are some requirements that all the international students from different countries have to fulfil to qualify as eligible to study in Canada.
There are some visa requirements by the immigration when applying for study permit as an international student.
Wendy Curtis is the executive director of the international office at Fanshawe College says, different countries have different visa requirements.
“Generally speaking, students who are coming for post- secondary program have to demonstrate their language ability with an international English language test score. If they are coming for English as a second language, that won’t be as relevant. Of course, because they can get those skills here.” She says.
“So, the minimum requirement for an international student to come to Canada, they have to show proof to immigration that they have at least one-year tuition plus living expenses. That is available for them,” says Joy Jiya the international student advisor at Fanshawe.
Does immigration of Canada allow international students to work?
While studying in Canada the international students are allowed to work to manage their living expenses.
Curtis says, the immigration has set a limit when it comes to the legal working hours for international students.
“When they are enrolled in a post-secondary program, they are eligible to work to up to 20 hours per week. And during breaks assuming they are in good standing they are eligible to work full time.”
But what is the analogy of the working hours?
Joy Jiya, the international advisor explains the concept of ‘3 buckets of working hours for the international students.’
“So, as an international student you have 3 buckets of working hours.
So, one bucket is for on- campus. That bucket is unlimited hours.
Then another bucket is for off- campus which is 20 hours per week. So, the 20 hours per week is not average. You use it or you lose it. So, a lot of students understood it as average, so they work 10 now this week and they think they can work 30 that’s not the case. So, 20 hours that’s it.
The third bucket if their program has a working component. So, such as internship, placement or co-op. that is another bucket. But this bucket of hours is based on how many hours is the requirement to fulfil the educational purpose.
So, all of these three bucket hours can be added in addition to each other.” Jija says.
Many international students are not aware of the possible consequences if they go over the permitted 20 hours.
Jiya says any unauthorized work is considered illegal in Canada and could have severe consequences that might even lead to removal.
“If the law or the regulation says as a full-time registered student you cannot work more than 20 hours per week but if you do any hour you worked after that is considered as unauthorized work. So, any unauthorized work, any unauthorized study in Canada is result in removal order.” Jiya says.
Also, a lot of international students have this misconception that if they go just an hour or two beyond the permitted limit is okay because their employer is asking them to work and they have been legally employed by their employer.
To this Jiya says, students must ask before a wise advice.
“No, it’s not okay at all. So, use immigration’s language the onus is on you. It’s on the permit holder. Employer could hire someone illegally and if immigration find out that’s not employer’s issue. It is this person. “Jiya says.
She adds,
“So, we have to held responsibility as a student as a study permit holder. You have to know what are your limits. That’s why we are here and we have advisors here. We actively advising students on this kind of information.” She says.
Wendy Curtis and Joy Jiya encourage all the international students at Fanshawe to engage on campus to learn more about the services provided and know they are there to help.
