Canada immigration latest news for international students

Here are the latest news and updates on Canada immigration for international students:

New Immigration Pathways for International Students

• On November 1, 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched two new immigration pathways for international students: the International Student Stream and the Post-Graduation Work Permit Stream. These pathways aim to attract more international students to Canada and provide a faster and more streamlined process for them to become permanent residents.
• The International Student Stream is designed for international students who have completed a degree or diploma from a Canadian institution and have a job offer in their field of study. The stream has a processing time of 6-12 months.
• The Post-Graduation Work Permit Stream is designed for international students who have completed a degree or diploma from a Canadian institution and have a post-graduation work permit. The stream has a processing time of 12-18 months.

Changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit

• On October 26, 2022, IRCC announced changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit program. The changes include:
  • Increasing the duration of the work permit from 3 years to 4 years for students who graduate from a master's or doctoral program.
  • Allowing international students to work in any field related to their field of study, rather than being limited to a specific field.
  • Streamlining the application process for international students who have a job offer in their field of study.

New Pilot Program for International Students

• On October 12, 2022, IRCC launched a new pilot program called the "International Student Pilot" to attract more international students to Canada. The program provides a faster and more streamlined process for international students to apply for a study permit and work permit.
• The pilot program is designed for international students who have a job offer in their field of study and want to work in Canada after completing their studies.

Changes to the Express Entry System

• On October 6, 2022, IRCC announced changes to the Express Entry system, which is used to manage applications for permanent residence from skilled workers, including international students. The changes include:
  • Increasing the number of points awarded to international students who have a job offer in their field of study.
  • Allowing international students to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system without having to submit a separate application.

New Language Requirements for International Students

• On September 22, 2022, IRCC announced new language requirements for international students applying for a study permit. The new requirements include:
  • International students must demonstrate a minimum language proficiency of CLB 7 in English or French, unless they are applying for a study permit to attend a language training program.
  • International students who are applying for a study permit to attend a language training program must demonstrate a minimum language proficiency of CLB 4 in English or French.

Other Updates

• On August 31, 2022, IRCC announced that it would be increasing the processing time for study permit applications from 12 weeks to 16 weeks due to a high volume of applications.
• On July 27, 2022, IRCC announced that it would be introducing a new online application system for study permits, which is expected to reduce processing times and improve the overall application experience for international students.

I hope this information is helpful!