Changes to IRCC Processes

This information was last updated on Monday, October 28, 2024. Please refer directly to the website for the most up-to-date information.听

 

Changes to Eligibility Requirements for Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)

Disclaimer: Please note that Cape Breton University (CBU) cannot guarantee that students will be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) upon graduation. Eligibility for a PGWP is determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and their regulations are subject to change. We strongly encourage all students to stay informed and regularly monitor the latest updates and policies provided by IRCC. For the most current information, please visit the

IRCC has recently announced changes to the post-graduate work permit eligibility that will apply to all study permit applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024. To be eligible for a PGWP, you must continue to meet the 听eligibility requirements (even after November 1, 2024) and complete a study program at a听. If you submit your听study permit application on or after November 1, 2024, you must also meet the . Please refer to the for more information. Frequently asked questions can be found at the bottom of this page.

 

Changes to the Rules Around Off-Campus Work Hours for September 2024

On April 29, 2024, IRCC announced changes to the rules around off-campus work hours for international students beginning in September 2024. International students can work up to 20 hours off-campus. Previously, international students could work for more than 20 hours a week while attending school.

For full details, refer to the .

Provincial Attestation Letter Updates

On January 22, 2024, announced new measures to stabilize the number of international students in Canada. Their news release can be found here: At this time, we have been given our allocation of PALs by the province of Nova Scotia and have begun issuing PALs to eligible applicants.

If you already have your visa, or submitted your visa application before January 22, 2024, you do not need a PAL.

Requesting a PAL from CBU

Applicants will be automatically assessed for PAL eligibility after they confirm their seat听and are not required to complete the PAL Request Form.

Process Breakdown

  • Be accepted to CBU
  • Pay your tuition deposit and confirm your seat
  • CBU reviews your application and PAL eligibility automatically
  • CBU requests the PAL on your behalf
  • Your PAL gets uploaded to your future student account or is sent to your agent

Understanding Expiry Dates

Please ensure that you check the expiry date of your PAL, as it will differ from the expiry date on your NOA.

  • Your PAL expiry date indicates what date you must apply for your Visa by.
  • Your NOA expiry date indicates what semesters you are eligible to study for once you have received your Visa. You must begin your studies before the expiry date of your NOA in order to enter Canada.

Accessing your PAL

For those that have applied via an agent, the PAL can be accessed only by the agent via the Supplemental Items section of their if and once this has been issued. The agent is responsible for providing this to the applicant as soon as possible once issued. Applicants without an agent can access this themselves via their personal .

Both applicants with and without agents will receive notification to their personal email address on file once their PAL request has been issued or听诲别苍颈别诲.

PGWP Frequently Asked Questions

These FAQs were last updated Monday, October 28, 2024. Please refer to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website for the most up-to-date information.

Disclaimer: Please note that Cape Breton University (CBU) cannot guarantee that students will be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) upon graduation. Eligibility for a PGWP is determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and their regulations are subject to change. We strongly encourage all students to stay informed and regularly monitor the latest updates and policies provided by IRCC. For the most current information, please visit the

No, if you submitted your study permit application before November 1, 2024, the new do not apply to you, and you only need to meet the . Note: there is a new language proficiency requirement that now applies to all PGWP applicants.

Yes, if you submitted your study permit application on or after November 1, 2024, the new will apply to you.

CBU is a public university. All full-time in-person bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees at Cape Breton University are eligible for PGWP; however, Cape Breton University cannot guarantee PGWP upon graduation.

 

Important Note on Transfer Programs

Bachelor of Engineering (Transfer) Program:

  • CBU delivers the first two years of the four-year Bachelor of Engineering program, with the final two years delivered at Dalhousie University. Students must complete the remaining two years at Dalhousie to be eligible for a PGWP.

Bachelor of Science, Nutrition (Transfer) Program:听

  • CBU delivers the first two years of the four-year Bachelor of Science, Nutrition program, with the final two years delivered at a specified university. Students must complete the remaining two years at the specified university to be eligible for a PGWP.

 

For individuals who submit their study permit application on or after November 1, 2024, the programs below should be verified for :听

 

IRCC policies are subject to change without notice. Students are strongly encouraged to frequently visit the .

If you are not interested in applying for a PGWP you will not be affected and can continue to complete your program.

If you are interested in applying for a PGWP and your program does not meet the new , you can apply to change your program .

A program change request must be made using the . All students will require advising after a program change has been approved. We encourage you to complete this form as early as possible if you wish to change your program.

Please refer to for information.

is a number used to classify instructional programs according to field of study.

PAL Frequently Asked Questions

These FAQs were last updated Monday, October 28, 2024. Please refer to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website for the most up-to-date information.

IRCC has set an intake cap on international student permit applications to stabilize new growth for a period of two years. You can view their full announcement here:

 

An attestation letter is a supporting document from the province in which a student plans to study. This is now a required document for an initial study permit application.听

Applicants will be automatically assessed for PAL eligibility after they confirm their seat听and are not required to complete the PAL Request Form.

Note: If you have been accepted for the Spring 2024 or Fall 2024 intakes, please contact admissions@cbu.ca for more information.

Yes, starting January 22, 2024, all new international students will require an attestation letter to apply for their study permit unless they are applying to study in a master鈥檚 degree program.

For those that have applied via an agent, the PAL can be accessed only by the agent via the Supplemental Items section of their if and once this has been issued. The agent is responsible for providing this to the applicant as soon as possible once issued.

Applicants without an agent can access this themselves via their personal .

Both applicants with and without agents will receive notification to their personal email address on file once their PAL request has been issued or听诲别苍颈别诲.

No, applications for visas received before 8:30am ET on January 22, 2024, do not require an attestation letter.

No, students applying to extend their study permit do not need an attestation letter.

This announcement does not affect current CBU students with existing study permits or those awaiting permit renewals.

We understand the disappointment about the recent IRCC announcement. For information about the refund process, please refer to CBU’s Refund Policy. If you have any additional questions, please connect with our team at internationalaccounts@cbu.ca.

PAL eligibility is based on Cape Breton University鈥檚 Strategic Enrolment Management Plan which outlines enrolment and diversification goals. The Federal Government has put a cap on new study permits for 2024, making PALs limited. CBU has set PAL caps by country to ensure enrolment goals are met while maintaining our commitment to diversification.

Please refer to the above webpage for instructions on how to request a PAL so our team is able to determine your eligibility based on the factors outlined above.

There is no extra fee payment you need to make for issuance of a听 PAL. PAL is issued after paying a seat confirmation tuition deposit mentioned in your Notice of Acceptance. This deposit is the only monetary requirement for applying and receiving a PAL.听 If you are being told by someone to make that extra payment to receive a PAL, kindly do not pay them as this is fraudulent.

PALs issued in 2024 will expire 10 weeks after the date of issue.

PALs issued in 2025 will expire 12 weeks after the date of issue, or by December 31, 2025.

Students will not be granted an additional PAL if their original expires. Students must submit their Visa application during this 10 week period to be considered for study.

Once you have applied for your Visa, and/or you have been issued a Visa, you no longer require a valid PAL. This is why the expiry date of your PAL may occur before your program start date.