Several international students enrolled in career colleges or vocational schools in Alberta are voicing their concerns over the rejection of their post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) due to their programs being classified as non-credit.
These students, who studied at Portage College, have taken to protesting outside the college’s Calgary and Edmonton campuses. Some have even resorted to a hunger strike to raise awareness about their predicament.
During an unrelated news conference on July 29, Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney were questioned about the ongoing protests. Carney, unaware of the situation, emphasized the importance of following the correct procedures for international students without permission to stay.
Lovepreet Singh, who attended Campbell College in Edmonton through a partnership with Portage College, shared his experience of completing non-credit teacher’s assistant courses before applying for a PGWP.
In response to the growing concerns, a Portage College spokesperson, Jaime Davies, acknowledged the permit denials among international graduates and mentioned ongoing efforts to seek clarification. However, Davies noted that the final decisions on PGWP applications rest with the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Singh, whose PGWP application was rejected in June, expressed disappointment after being informed that his courses did not meet the federal permit program’s eligibility criteria.
The IRCC updated the permit eligibility criteria for graduates of public-private curriculum partnerships like those offered by Portage College in early 2024. These new regulations, effective from May 2024, restricted eligibility for the PGWP.
Despite some international students’ permits being approved, Singh highlighted discrepancies in the information provided by the college and the IRCC regarding credit and non-credit courses.
Regarding the recent developments, IRCC clarified that the program’s eligibility requirements have not changed, emphasizing the need for completion of credit-earning programs to qualify for the PGWP.
Singh and his fellow classmates have made multiple attempts to address the issue with Portage College officials, but a resolution has yet to be reached.
As Portage College ends its partnerships with Campbell College and the Canadian Institute of Osteopathic Therapy in Calgary, it insists that these decisions were pre-planned and unrelated to the recent PGWP rejections.
International graduates facing PGWP rejections are given a 90-day window to apply for alternative visas or leave Canada. Singh has initiated a judicial review process, anticipating a prolonged wait of up to six months for a resolution.
Singh expressed frustration over being denied the PGWP after investing significant time studying in Canada, labeling the situation as “totally strange.”