New PGWP Petition E4454 Calls For Increase In Work Permit Time

Last Updated On 19 March 2024, 9:17 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

A new petition, e4454 for PGWP, has been presented in the House of Commons requesting an increase in the currently-set duration of post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) for international students in Canada.

The petition was presented on March 18, 2024, by Ruby Sahota, the Member of Parliament from Brampton North.

What exactly is PGWP petition e4454?

International students in Canada graduating from a study program with a duration of 8 months or one year usually get one-year post-graduation work permits (PGWPs), allowing them to work for any employer in Canada.

Similarly, foreign students graduating from a study program of 2 years or more are entitled to 3-year post-graduation work permits (PGWPs).

Let’s continue with the general requirements even though Canada has introduced new regulations for PGWPs for international students studying in specific educational institutions and/or education levels.

The new PGWP e4454 petition calls upon the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to increase the duration of PGWPs being issued to international students.

The petition demands that the IRCC minister increase the duration of PGWP to 2 years for students graduating from an 8–12 month study program and to 5 years for students graduating from a study program of 2 years or more.

Basis of the petition

International students who have completed a 2-year program since 2017, have been granted a four and a half-year post-graduation work permit (PGWP) (initially granted for three years and extended for an additional eighteen months under Public Policy for PGWP extension).

The students who completed a one-year program at an appropriate designated learning institution (DLI) since 2019 have been eligible for a two and a half-year PGWP (one year initially, with an additional eighteen months granted by public policy for PGWP extensions).

The rationale is that the Government of Canada, like other programs such as the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-based work permit and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) (T13) work permit, has sufficient data to warrant a permanent modification to the duration of the PGWP.

After completing their studies, graduates without any prior work experience sometimes struggle to obtain skilled employment.

A longer tenure will aid with the acquisition of useful skills; a longer PGWP will handle important concerns such as businesses selling job offers, LMIA frauds, and so-called employees running dummy payrolls;

Work permit holders who are unable to find competent employment and are thus vulnerable to exploitation experience stress and worry due to the current PGWP term.

Timeline of Petition e4454

Kanwar Sumit Singh Sierah from Mississauga, Ontario, started the e-petition prior to signatures and its presentation in the House of Commons.

The petition opened for signatures between October 18, 2023, and February 15, 2024.

During this time, the petition received 24,349 signatures from all the Canadian provinces and territories, with Ontarians contributing the most, with 16,686 signatures.

What is a petition?

A petition is used to bring attention to a matter of public interest or concern and to ask for action from the Government of Canada, the House of Commons, a Minister of the Crown, or a Commons Member.

A petitioner is the individual who drafts and submits such a request.

Who initiated the petition e4454?

Kanwar Sumit Singh Sierah, an Ontario resident from Mississauga and Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), introduced the petition e4454.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.