The role that international students play in the Canadian economy is one that cannot be looked over.
The 640,000 international students in addition to creating a diverse and wholistic learning
environment, contribute some $22 billion to the economy each year which supports around 200,000
Canadian jobs.
Recognizing that difficulties that international students face during COVID-19, Canada has
announced a variety of special measures to help the international students already in the country,
and those who hope to come into the country soon. The following are the latest updates concerning
international students:
Implied status
Current and Post-Graduation Work Permit holding international students who wish to extend their
stay in Canada during the coronavirus impact may be eligible for implied status. Implied status
provides international students the chance to continue their studies and/or work while Immigration,
Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reviews their work/study permit extension application
Working hours
IRCC has temporarily allowed international students to work more than the previously allowed 20
hours if they are working in 10 priority sectors. This rule holds water until August 31. These 10
sectors are:

 Energy and utilities
 Information and Communication Technologies
 Finance
 Health
 Food
 Water
 Transportation
 Safety
 Government
 Manufacturing

CERB

The federal government provides income support through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit
(CERB) which offers $500 per week for up to 16 weeks to eligible workers whose lives have been
disrupted by the pandemic. International students who qualify for the requirements may receive the
benefits.

PR pathways

Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, both levels of government have issued more invitations to
apply for permanent residence to those with Canadian experience due to the high levels of
education and linguistic proficiencies that international students bring with them to the Canadian
economy.

More time to submit immigration applications

IRCC understands the impact that COVID-19 might have had on the abilities of immigration
applications. IRCC announced that it will not turn incomplete applications and that they will provide
an additional 90 days to complete the application considering the COVID-19 pandemic.

PGWP

The Post-Graduation Work Permit helps international students gain Canadian work experience.
International students have no need for concern with regards to their PGWP since IRCC has
announced that students who were slotted for a study permit to begin their Canadian education in
May or June will be able to begin their program online without affecting their eligibility to eventually
apply for a PGWP. The same applies to international students already in Canada.

More support for international students on the way

Canadian response to the pandemic situation has surpassed that even of the United States. It has
done more than what anyone could have expected when compared with other countries. The care
and concern that the government has shown to accommodate its foreign nationals have helped
cement Canada’s status as a truly inclusive and diverse country made up of a cultural mosaic.
Considering the current trends, it is highly probable that more help would be coming for international
students.

Citizens of six particular countries who are Canadian permanent residents might be prevented from entering the U.S. after the US President, Donald Trump, issued another executive order on immigration.

Trump signed the order on March 6; however it will not be implemented until March 16. Under this order, citizens of Iran, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, and Syria are obstructed from applying for U.S. visas for 90 days. It likewise hinders all refugees from entering the US for 120 days.

Double citizens of one of these nations who additionally have a passport from a nation, not on the list are absolved from the ban. In theory, this implies Canadian dual citizens can travel as normal, yet the status of permanent residents who need to cross the border is fairly less clear.

The order explicitly expresses that a “landed immigrant” from Canada needs to apply for a “waiver” that “may” likely be granted, on a “case-by-case premise,” at the discretion of another authority from U.S Customs and Border Protection or a consular officer. This approach applies to a scope of individuals, including if “the foreign national is a landed Canadian immigrant who applies for a visa at an area inside Canada.”

It is not yet obvious how this strategy concerning Canadian permanent residents will be employed. There is presently no official sign as to whether the policy will be employed consistently across embassies in Canadian urban communities, or how liberal the U.S. government might be to applicants.

On Monday, March 6, a representative for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), said that “Canada will work with its partners in the United States to clear up the effects of this request on Canadian subjects and Canadian temporary and permanent residents.”

After a prior U.S. immigration request was marked and executed on January 27, Canada’s Immigration Minister, Ahmed Hussen, at first guaranteed Canadian permanent residents who held a legal U.S. visa that their travel rights ought not to be influenced. Notwithstanding, it soon got to be distinctly obvious that these affirmations were not being met by some U.S. border authorities. Not long after that underlying boycott was actualized, CICNews.com distributed a story on a Syrian permanent resident of Canada who was denied section to the U.S, as well as had his visa revoked at the border.

Mr. Trump’s initial order confronted lawful difficulties in numerous courts, finishing in Seattle government Judge James Robert issuing a transitory restraining order. A higher court in San Francisco maintained Judge Robart’s choice. As opposed to proceeding with attempting to re-actualize the first ban, Mr. Trump chose to issue another order.