Off-campus work permit program launched

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May 31, 2006

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/study_outside.jpg” caption=”International students will soon find a bit of financial relief with new access to off-campus employment.”]The recent announcement by Citizenship and Immigration Canada of the Off-Campus Work Program for International Students is good news to McMaster' 2,000 international students: they are now allowed to work off campus for up to 20 hours per week during the school year.

The program comes with strict criteria: international students must have completed six months of full-time study at a post-secondary institution, and must maintain full-time academic status and satisfactory marks.

Marcos Costa, students' advisor for McMaster's International Students Services, said the program is something for which international students have been lobbying for many years.

“This is a victory for international students,” says Costa. “Previously, international students were allowed to work 10 hours per week on-campus only. This new initiative will supplement their income, and allow them to test the Canadian market for permanent jobs later on.”

He says the program will also serve as a stepping-stone toward making international students eligible for the next step up — the post-graduation work program, which will allows students to work in Canada for up to two years after graduation.

“International students make an important contribution to the McMaster and Hamilton communities,” said Phil Wood, associate vice-president, Student Affairs. “This initiative will help us reach our Refining Directions goal of 'building an inclusive community.' Furthermore, many international students are overwhelmed by the cost of attending university in Canada. Being able to work not only gives them valuable experience; it also helps them meet their financial obligations.”

Ontario universities will implement the program through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and requests for Verification Forms to confirm the student's status, will be available through the International Students Services website at http://oisa.mcmaster.ca after June 1. Students will also receive an email through the list serve with directions and other relevant information about this initiative.

The Off-Campus Work Program allows international students to apply for an “open” work permit (students are allowed to work for any employer) and to work off-campus for a maximum of 20 hours a week (during regular academic year) and full-time (during winter or summer holidays, reading week etc), provided that the following conditions are met. The student must:

  • have a valid study permit;
  • study at a participating institution; ( Click here for a list of participating institutions)
  • have been a full-time student for at least six of the 12 months preceding the application for a work permit;
  • be in satisfactory academic standing, as determined by the Registrar's Office;
  • sign a form authorizing the institution, the province and CIC to share personal information (in order to confirm student status and academic standing);
  • complete a work permit application (available on the CIC website); and
  • pay a processing fee of $150.

    Certain students are not eligible for the off-campus work permit. More complete information is available on the International Students Services or Citizenship and Immigration Canada websites.