How to turn a one year study program into a permanent resident card in Canada
- Have you always wanted to become a permanent resident in Canada? Below are 5 tips on how to study and immigrate to Canada. These tips will help you learn how to turn a one year study program into a permanent resident card in Canada!
- First, here is some introductory information that will be helpful to you.
Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)
- A PGWP is a work permit that is designed for international students, allowing them to stay in Canada after graduation and work for up to 3 years after that. The students are allowed to work in Canada until they are formally employed.
- The PGWP is an open work permit, allowing graduates to work for any employer within Canada. It is often given to graduates of a one-year study program at a designated learning institution in Canada.
- The PGWP also helps you gain the necessary work experience that will help with your eligibility for a permanent resident card.
Eligibility
When considering how to turn a one year study program into a permanent resident card in Canada, remember that you must qualify for the PGWP first, based on the criteria below.
- You must be over 18 years of age.
- You should have completed a study program in Canada consisting of at least 8 months of full-time study.
- You must have completed your course at a designated learning institution.
- You must apply for the PGWP within 180 days of the last day of the study program you are pursuing.
When to Apply
- You can apply for the PGWP within 90 days of when your letter of completion becomes available. Note that your study permit must still be valid.
- Or, you can apply within 180 days of when your letter of completion first becomes available. You should have previously held a valid study permit and should have done at least one of the following.
- Applied for visitor status before your study permit became invalid
- Applied to restore your temporary resident status
- Applied from outside Canada
Below are 5 tips on how to study in and immigrate to Canada.
1. Find an employer at least 90 days after graduation
- As soon as you graduate, start looking for an employer so that you can begin to get the required work experience for permanent residence.
- To apply for permanent residence, you need at least one year of skilled work experience as follows:
- One year of full-time work (30 hours per week for 12 months) which equals 1560 hours; OR
- 1560 hours from part-time work (15 hours per week for 24 months or 30 hours per week for 12 months at more than one job. You can work more or less than 15 hours per week as long as it adds up to 1560 hours.
- Note that any hours above 30 hours per week are not counted.
2. Have your partner come to Canada on a work permit
- This is one of the best tips on how to turn a one year study program into a permanent resident card in Canada. Your partner is allowed to come to Canada while you are in school or after you graduate and work for unlimited hours, resulting in both of you attaining a cumulative amount of 24 months of Canadian work experience.
- Your partner’s work experience can also contribute towards you getting a permanent residence card. Also, if you are not quite done with school and you want to further your studies, your partner can work towards permanent residence as you go to school.
3. Choose your work location strategically
- The next of the 5 tips on how to study in and immigrate to Canada is choosing the right location for your study program and to apply for a work permit.
- For instance, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland are favorite destinations for many international students because of their favorable work permit procedures.
4. Identify which job/career you want to get into
- You will need to identify which provinces have demand for the career you intend to pursue, or the job you are looking for.
- For example, if you want to get into IT, British Columbia is a great province to go to because there are lots of IT jobs available. If you are interested in agriculture, Manitoba and Alberta are the provinces you should target.
5. Apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
- The BOWP is something you should definitely consider as you think about how to study in and immigrate to Canada. If you have a BOWP, you can keep working as you wait for the results of your permanent residence application.
- You can apply for your BOWP just before your PGWP comes to an end, before your put in your permanent residence application.
Now that you have these 5 tips on how to study in and immigrate to Canada and how to turn a one year study program into a permanent resident card in Canada, go ahead and apply for your one year course today. Good luck!