International students in Canada, including those from India, can now work up to 24 hours a week. This step has been taken keeping in mind the comfort of students so that they can support themselves financially and also so that they don't feel like they are a burden on their families while studying in Canada. Students moving to Canada for the September intake will benefit from this measure.
According to Marc Miller, the temporary policy that allowed students to work for more than 20 hours per week ended on April 30, 2024. Considerate as ever, the Canadian government announced the 24 hours per week change in light of ensuring that international students maintain a better living standard. The increased working hours will lighten the expenditure while pursuing your studies.
The Canadian government acknowledges that there has been a surge in the enrollment of international students in the country. As the temporary policy has ended, the study permit will only allow them to work for 20 hours a week. Students who try to work more than the permissible limit may find themselves in difficult situations.
More Working Hours May Affect Academic Performance
Canadian government arrived at this number of 24 working hours for students in a week after thorough research. It has been found that academic performance declines considerably as working permission is increased by more than 28 hours a week. It was concluded that the risk of dropping out increases as the number of weekly working hours is increased over 24.
The revised work limits will balance the lives of students perfectly. They will be able to earn as per the needs of the economy yet their primary focus will be on studies, for which they have come to Canada. The main purpose of allowing international students to work off campus is to enable them to gain experience in the local market. Money earned is an add-on that helps them take care of their expenses.
A study visa should not be used as a means to gain entry into the country, which will be sidelined once the objective is met. It is important to be clear for what purpose you are going to Canada and a visa application should be submitted accordingly. Learn how to apply for a study visa in the right manner from overseas education consultants in Gurgaon.
A Brief Lookback at the Work Cap for International Students
The 20-hour work limit for international students was temporarily suspended during the pandemic to save the country from high labour shortages. International students were allowed to work full-time for 40 hours a week even during the academic session. Last December, IRCC announced that this waiver would be extended to April 30, 2024. However, it was added that this policy is still being examined for the future.
Working hours for international students are being changed globally. Australia also adjusted the working hours for international students, allowing 48 hours every two weeks. Canada, to ensure a better life for all living in the country, has brought many changes in recent times, including the cost-of-living threshold for international students which has been increased to CAD 20,635. The rule is simple, they don’t want to welcome any international students whose studies are dependent on employment.
Setting Priorities of Life Straight
A student’s journey is marked with many important decisions to make. The lure of earning in dollars attracts them and many want to skip studies to earn more. Jumping on the bandwagon of working full-time in Canada or Australia should be kept on hold till the studies are complete. Understand what these big economies expect from you. Know more before moving overseas to study, and talk to study visa consultants in Gurugram.
(Written by ESS Global)
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