Businesses welcome Canadian post-grad work visa changes
February 08 2012 by Helen Johnson
Businesses in Canada have welcomed the recent changes to the Canadian visa rules governing post-graduate work visas.
The new rules allow students who have completed degrees in Canada to work in their field while completing post-graduate studies.
The changes remove restrictions on students working off-campus during study, which often led to post-grad students returning home to write their theses, as they could not earn money in Canada. However, since the restrictions have been lifted, businesses claim to be reaping the benefits, according to a report in the Winnipeg Free Press.
Now, post-graduate students can work as many as 20 hours a week in a role that is linked to their studies. In addition, they can apply for a three-year Canadian work visa once they have graduated to allow them to continue to work in Canada and share their skills.
One firm to benefit has been structural engineering firm, Stantec, based in Calgary. The firm's practice leader, Gerd Birkle, explained that he took on a structural engineering post-graduate student from the University of Calgary. The student would have previously returned to his native Iran for work but can now remain working in Canada. Birkle said the firm hopes to take him on permanently once he finishes his studies.
See the latest Immigration News
