Public policy concerning individuals who partook in a 1-year International Business Management program and a 4-month Freight Forwarding and Logistics program at the same public college

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Ottawa, October 26, 2018

This public policy will facilitate the issuance of open work permits and, where necessary, the restoration of temporary resident status to a group of international students. These foreign nationals became ineligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program due to misinformation regarding their programs of study and eligibility for the post-graduation work permit program. This misinformation has negatively impacted these international students by limiting their access to the Program. The disruption this has caused these international students warrants facilitative action on behalf of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

As such, I hereby establish that, pursuant to my authority under section 25.2 of the Act, there are sufficient public policy considerations to justify the granting, by delegated officers, of an exemption from the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Regulations) listed below to foreign nationals who meet the conditions (eligibility criteria) listed below.

Eligibility criteria and conditions

Foreign nationals who’ve had their post-graduation work permit refused:

their post-graduation work permit was refused between July 25, 2018 and the date when this public policy was published;
the only reason for the refusal was that more than 90 days had elapsed since the student received confirmation that they completed the International Business Management program at their public college;
received confirmation of program completion of a one year International Business Management program at their public college and subsequently received notification of completion of a 4 month Freight Forwarding and Logistics program offered by the same public college between August 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018;
haven’t been previously issued a post-graduation work permit; and
applied for facilitation under this public policy before midnight, December 31, 2018.

Foreign nationals who haven’t received a decision on their post-graduation work permit application:

completed a 1-year International Business Management program at a public college between August 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018;
following the International Business Management program, completed a subsequent 4-month Freight Forwarding and Logistics program on or before August 31, 2018 at the same public college;
would’ve qualified for a post-graduation work permit had they applied for it within 90 days of receiving confirmation that they completed the International Business Management program;
applied for a post-graduation work permit within 90 days of having received confirmation of completion of the Freight Forwarding and Logistics program, or they have applied for facilitation under this public policy within 90 days of receiving written confirmation of completion of the Freight Forwarding and Logistics program from their public college.
haven’t been previously issued a post-graduation work permit; and
applied for facilitation under this public policy before midnight, December 31, 2018.

Provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

An exemption from the requirement to be described under paragraph 200(1)(c) of the Regulations may be granted.

In addition, those individuals who meet the conditions listed above and who remained in Canada after being refused a post-graduation work permit may be exempt from the requirements under:

section 197 of the Regulations that a foreign national makes an application for a work permit before entering Canada
subsection 182(1) of the Regulations that an application for restoration be made within 90 days of losing temporary resident status

Submitting an application under the public policy for an open work permit and restoration of status (if applicable)

Follow the instructions in this section to be considered eligible for an open work permit under the public policy.

In-Canada applications

International graduates residing in Canada must:

Self-identify as eligible for consideration under the public policy.
See the eligibility criteria listed above.
Complete the application to change conditions or extend stay as a worker (application form and all necessary supporting documents) by paper.
Eligible international graduates who’ve had their post-graduation work permit refused:
- Applicants who were refused their post-graduation work permit are encouraged to include a clear and legible copy of their post-graduation work permit refusal letter dated between July 25, 2018 and October 29, 2018, if available.
- Include documentary evidence (final transcript, letter from the institution and/or the formal notice of graduation) that they received confirmation of completion of a one year International Business Management Program at their public college and subsequently received notification of completion of a four month Freight Forwarding and Logistics Program offered by the same public college between August 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018.
Eligible international graduates who haven’t yet received a decision on their post-graduation work permit application:
- Applicants who’ve submitted an application for a post-graduation work permit within 90 days of having received confirmation of completion of the Freight Forwarding and Logistics Program from their public college, but haven’t yet received a decision on their applications may:
  - withdraw their application
  - receive a refund if the processing of withdrawn application hasn’t begun yet
  - apply for an open work permit under the public policy
- Applicants who’ve submitted an application for a post-graduation work permit within 90 days of having received confirmation of completion of the Freight Forwarding and Logistics Program from their public college but haven’t yet received a decision on their applications should provide evidence of this, if available.
- Include the documentary evidence (final transcript, letter from the institution and/or the formal notice of graduation) that they completed a 1-year International Business Management Program at a public college between August 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018 and subsequently completed a 4-month Freight Forwarding and Logistics Program offered by the same public college on or before August 31, 2018.
Eligible international graduates who hadn’t yet applied for a post-graduation work permit must:
- Include documentary evidence (final transcript, letter from the institution and/or the formal notice of graduation) that they completed a 1-year International Business Management Program at a public college between August 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018 and subsequently completed a 4-month Freight Forwarding and Logistics Program offered by the same public college on or before August 31, 2018;
- Apply for an open work permit under the public policy within 90 days of receiving written confirmation that they completed the Freight Forwarding and Logistics program from their public college.
Pay a processing fee for each service that they require.
They must submit all fees with their application.

If they apply for multiple services on an application, they must:
- add up the fees for each service
- submit the total of the fees with their application
Use the required fees chart to calculate the fees required for the services they’re requesting.
Attach a copy of the official IRCC receipt with barcode.
This is proof of fee payment.
Undergo their medical exam before submitting their application, if required.
See the medical exam requirements for temporary residents (visitors, students and workers) for more information on medical exams and how to obtain one before submitting an application.
Clearly identify their application by writing “Public policy for international graduates ineligible for the PGWP” on the outside of the final envelope.
- If sending by courier, write the statement on the courier envelope.
- It’s also recommended that this be indicated on the first page of the correspondence/application
This ensures that the Case Processing Centre in Edmonton can easily identify applications.
For bundled applications, clearly write “Public policy for international graduates ineligible for the PGWP” on the outside of the box
Submit their complete application in paper form only to:
Case Processing Centre in Edmonton
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada
c/o Student Work Permits/New Employer, Station 555
9700 Jasper Avenue NW, Suite 55
Edmonton, AB T5J 4C3

These applications for this public policy will not accepted at the Ports of Entry (POE).

All applications submitted under the public policy must be received by IRCC by 11:59 pm, December 31, 2018 EDT.

Exemptions for applications submitted from within Canada under the public policy

Applicants without status in Canada who are past their 90-day restoration period are still eligible to apply.
Applicants who meet the conditions listed above and who remained in Canada after being refused post-graduation work permit may apply from inside Canada.

Outside of Canada applications

International graduates residing outside of Canada must do all of the following:

Self-identify as eligible for consideration under the public policy
See the eligibility criteria listed above.
Complete the application for an open work permit from outside of Canada (application form and all necessary supporting documents) by paper
Eligible international graduates who've had their post-graduation work permit refused:
- Applicants who were refused their post-graduation work permit are encouraged to include a clear and legible copy of their post-graduation work permit refusal letter dated between July 25, 2018 and October 29, 2018, if available.
- Include documentary evidence (final transcript, letter from the institution and/or the formal notice of graduation) that they received confirmation of completion of a 1-year International Business Management Program at their public college and subsequently received notification of completion of a 4-month Freight Forwarding and Logistics Program offered by the same public college between August 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018.
Eligible international graduates who haven't yet received a decision on their post-graduation work permit application:
- Applicants who've submitted an application for a post-graduation work permit within 90 days of having received confirmation of completion of the Freight Forwarding and Logistics Program from their public college but have not yet received a decision on their applications may:
  - withdraw their application
  - receive a refund if the processing of withdrawn application hasn't begun yet
  - apply for an open work permit under the public policy
- Applicants who've submitted an application for a post-graduation work permit within 90 days of having received confirmation of completion of the Freight Forwarding and Logistics Program from their public college but haven't yet received a decision on their applications should provide evidence of this, if available.
- Include the documentary evidence (final transcript, letter from the institution and/or the formal notice of graduation) that they completed a 1-year International Business Management Program at a public college between August 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018 and subsequently completed a 4-month Freight Forwarding and Logistics Program offered by the same public college on or before August 31, 2018.
Eligible international graduates who hadn't yet applied for a post-graduation work permit:
- Include documentary evidence (final transcript, letter from the institution and/or the formal notice of graduation) that they completed a 1-year International Business Management Program at a public college between August 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018 and subsequently completed a 4-month Freight Forwarding and Logistics Program offered by the same public college on or before August 31, 2018;
- They must apply for an open work permit under the public policy within 90 days of receiving written confirmation that they completed the Freight Forwarding and Logistics program from their public college.
Pay a processing fee for each service that they require
They must submit all fees with their application.
If they apply for multiple services on an application, they must:
- add up the fees for each service
- submit the total of the fees with their application
Use the required fees chart to calculate the fees required for the services they're requesting.
Attach a copy of the official IRCC receipt with barcode
This is proof of fee payment.
Undergo their medical exam before submitting their application, if a medical exam is required
See the medical exam requirements for temporary residents (visitors, students and workers) for more information on medical exams and how to obtain one before submitting an application.
These graduates must submit their complete application in paper form only to a visa application centre serving their country of residence.
Clearly identify their application by writing “Public policy for international graduates ineligible for the PGWP” on the first page of the correspondence/application
This is to ensure that visa officers can easily identify the applications.