Current PGWP Processing Delays: A Big Concern for International Students

Post Graduation Work Permit is a vital path for international students in Canada to transition from academics to the workforce. International students study Bachelors/Masters/Diploma/Certificate courses in Canada. However the recent data from IRCC shows massive delay in processing times and it’s creating stress, anxiety, uncertainty among international students in Canada.

Processing time for PGWP (from inside Canada): 234 days

• This means PGWP applicants have to wait 7.5 months to get their work permit.
• The processing time is updated weekly and its reflects the average processing time for the past 6 months.

International student have invested thousands of dollars and their precious youth in their education and when they want to reap the benefits of their investment they have to wait for months to get PGWP. Companies hesitate to hire international graduates on the applied status of PGWP. This means they have interviews but cant accept offer without PGWP document as Employers are not properly aware that they can work full time on maintained status.

This prolonged wait times put mental stress and anxiety on international students as they miss work opportunities and life in Canada is expensive. To cover your day to day living expenses you need to be working plus there are many international student who have taken education loas and they have to pay it back and if they delay in payments then they have to pay extra interest over it and it’s compound interest which acts as like double edge sword.

Any day missed of work can delay your permanent residency application. There are many PR programs and almost most of them have work requirements. This means early you start working early you become eligible for many PR programs such as CEC EE and PNPs.

Many international students plan to travel to home country after completion of their studies but current long processing delays are hindering their ability to visit their families in their back home country. To get health coverage they need PGWP document and without this they have to pay private companies to get coverage.

Canada has a reputation of welcoming international students from across the globe. Canada is also one of the greatest country to settle permanently after completion of studies. But, the current massive work permit processing delay may discourage new students to choose Canada for their higher education.

What needs to be done

1. IRCC needs to prioritize PGWP applications.
   • International graduates have invested thousands of dollars in Canadian Economy and they want to work and contribute to economy but current long processing time delays their growth.
2. Implement Expedited Processing Systems.
   • PGWP applications processing system should be expedited processing system so that this similar problem doesn’t replicate in the future.
3. Better Communication.
   • Regular communication with the PGWP applicants may help in elimination of stress and worries.
4. Raise awareness among Employers
   • More awareness among employers about maintained status eligibility of work.

IRCC must find some solution to this problem. International Graduates are future citizens of Canada and need fair treatment in processing of their PGWP applications.