Some international students enrolled in career colleges or vocational schools in Alberta are voicing concerns over their post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) being declined due to their programs being classified as non-credit. Graduates from Portage College have been staging demonstrations outside the college’s Calgary and Edmonton campuses recently, with some even resorting to a hunger strike to highlight their plight.
During a 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 international students following the correct procedures if they lack authorization to stay in the country.
Lovepreet Singh, who attended Campbell College in Edmonton through a partnership with Portage College, revealed in an interview with CBC Radio’s Edmonton AM that he completed a teacher’s assistant program under a non-credit curriculum before applying for a PGWP in March. Non-credit programs do not offer academic credits or grades.
Portage College’s spokesperson, Jaime Davies, acknowledged that some international graduate students faced PGWP rejections and mentioned that the college is seeking clarification on the matter. However, Davies clarified that the decision on PGWP applications lies solely with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Singh disclosed that his PGWP application was turned down in June because his courses did not meet the federal permit program criteria. Although Campbell College assured him of eligibility before applying, Singh discovered that non-credit courses were not permissible for PGWPs when the IRCC updated its website in June.
Contrary to Singh’s claims, IRCC stated that the eligibility prerequisites for the PGWP program have not changed. The department clarified that applicants must complete a credit-earning program leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate from an approved learning institution.
IRCC mentioned that the recent updates to the PGWP webpage aimed to clarify existing requirements and their applicability to non-credit programs following feedback from stakeholders. Singh and his classmates have approached Portage College twice for resolution but have not received a definitive response yet.
Portage College announced the discontinuation of its partnerships with Campbell College and the Canadian Institute of Osteopathic Therapy in Calgary on its website, stating that these decisions were premeditated and unrelated to the recent PGWP rejections.
International graduates facing PGWP rejections have 90 days to apply for an alternate visa or leave Canada. Singh, who filed for a judicial review, was informed that the process could take up to six months, leaving him and his peers frustrated after investing years in their studies without the desired outcome.