Rapid policy shifts by the federal government recently left many international students in a state of confusion and concern, including myself.
We need clarity and reliability from the authorities entrusted with shaping our futures.
The rollercoaster began with an announcement on Jan. 22, 2024.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Marc Miller announced an intake cap on international student permit applications for two years and other policy shifts.
In a news release from IRCC on Jan. 22, 2024, following Miller’s announcement, comprehensive details were provided regarding all the new rules.
While the international student cap was a notable change, IRCC also revised the requirements for the eligibility criteria of the three-year open work permit for international students in Canada.
The news release said graduates of a master’s degree and other short graduate-level programs will soon be eligible to apply for a three-year work permit.
I was relieved with this decision because it eliminated the pressure of pursuing an additional course to get a three-year work permit.
Being enrolled in a journalism postgraduate program, I could prioritize my studies and balance them with my work.
However, my joy was short-lived.
Just three days later, on Jan. 25, the IRCC omitted the mention of “other short graduate-level programs” from the official statement, leaving only graduates of a master’s degree program eligible for the three-year open work permit.
The lack of transparency and consistency in decision-making angers me.
This omission is crucial as the path for the short-term graduate program students became difficult once again as we bear the financial strain of pursuing additional studies to get a three-year open work permit, prolonging our journey to stability in Canada.
Humber College student Sai Kumar, studying supply chain management, shared his frustration.
“I was devastated. For one day, I lived without any tension, and then the next, it felt like you wake up from a dream,” he said.
“For any kind of confirmation, we always refer to the government’s official site, and when I read the original news, my parents were also relieved that I won’t have to compromise anymore to save up for my tuition.”
Kumar said he now must prioritize his work and then his studies to ensure his three-year work permit. Many students like Sai, including myself, feel the same way.
When asked about this change, Senior Communications Advisor for IRCC, Remi Lariviere, responded by addressing graduates of a master’s degree and remained silent on students of short graduate-level programs.
“Graduates of master’s degrees have faced challenges in transitioning to permanent residence, despite higher levels of education,” Lariviere said in an email to Humber News.
“The length of open work permit for which they have been eligible may not have provided enough time to gain work experience and qualify to apply under Express Entry,” he said.
Students should not suffer because of government inconsistency.