Holders of Canadian visitor visas will not be able to apply for a work permit within the country.
This is coming amidst recent immigration reforms that have
sparked protests, especially amongst international students.
The Immigration,
Refugees and Citizenship Canada in a statement on Wednesday said it will
discontinue the policy that allows visitors to get a work permit with immediate
effect.
“While the temporary policy was set to expire on February
28, 2025, IRCC is ending the policy as part of our overall efforts to
recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and preserve the
integrity of the immigration system,” the statement read.
The policy was introduced in August 2020 to assist visitors
in Canada who were unable to return home because of border closures related to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visitors could apply for a work permit without having to
leave Canada. Also, anyone who had held a work permit within the preceding 12
months but had changed their immigration status to “visitor” became eligible to
“work legally in Canada while waiting for a decision on their new work permit
application.”
However, the IRCC said
that “some bad actors were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals
into working in Canada without authorization.”
It, however, said it will continue to process applications
submitted before August 28, 2024, under the policy.”
Tensions heightened earlier this week when tens of thousands
of international students took to the streets across Canada to protest against
new immigration policies introduced by the federal government that could see
about 70,000 of them deported.
As of 2023, international students made up 37 per cent of
study visa holders in Canada.
However, the recent cap on student visas is expected to
reduce the intake of foreign students by 35 per cent, a move the government
argues is necessary to alleviate pressures on housing, unemployment, and public
services.
In June, the Canadian government further tightened
regulations by announcing that foreign nationals would no longer be able to
apply for a PGWP at the border.
This decision has sparked fears among students who are
concerned about their future in Canada.
Student advocacy groups, including the Naujawan Support
Network, have warned that many international graduates could face deportation
once their work permits expire at the end of the year.
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