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What is the immigration impacts of accelerated study, part-time studies, failures and withdrawals?
If you're an international student, there are immigration impacts if you are unable to complete your program of study successfully.
- Accelerated Study
Opting out of a scheduled break is optional, your PGWP eligibility will not be impacted as long as you complete your program successfully. Length of PGWP will be based on length of study noted on the original letter of acceptance. If you are a student who is applying for PGWP with accelerated study, you are advised to include a letter of explanation with your application.
- Part-time study (If you fail a course)
The number of courses (credits) you take determines your full-time or part-time status for immigration purposes. All international students must be enrolled full-time to avoid immigration impacts. To avoid immigration impacts you must be enrolled in a minimum 70% course
If you are enrolled in part-time study as a result of a failed course, you are not eligible to work on or off campus for the remainder of the term and must stop working immediately. You will not be able to resume working until you are enrolled full time.
You are not eligible to work during scheduled breaks immediately before and after your part-time term.
The only exception is if you are a part-time student in the final semester of your studies, and have never previously been a part-time student in any semester prior in this case, you are able to work, while you are a part-time student, given that it is your last semester of studies.
Your eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after graduation will be impacted since you are required to study full time continuously without unauthorized breaks in each Winter Term to be eligible for PGWP.
Your grades do not directly impact your enrolment or immigration status for that term. For example, if you fail your courses, but remain enrolled in 4 courses or more, you are still considered full-time for immigration purposes.
You will need to have a valid study permit to complete your studies in Canada, and must apply for an extension before your current study permit expires to avoid having to restore your status.
Note that to apply for a study permit extension you will require proof of continued enrollment in the college – Obtain an enrollment letter.
If you must study part-time, before you can obtain a letter of enrollment and copy of your transcript as proof you were enrolled full-time. Gather additional documents supporting your circumstances, and keep a timeline of important dates so that you could provide this in your PGWP application in the future.
- If you fail many courses
If you have many failed courses over several terms, an officer may question if you are making reasonable progress towards completing your program. They could request additional information to ensure your intention in Canada is to study.
- If you withdraw for the semester
If you withdraw, you are no longer considered enrolled, and you will not be eligible to apply for PGWP until you return to classes to complete your program.
Contact an Academic Advisor and Immigration Advisor to understand possible academic impacts along with the immigration impacts as soon as possible if you are at risk of failing or have failed a course.
- Studying full-time allows you to:
Maintain your student status and stay in Canada if your study permit is valid.
Work on and off campus during the current term, if eligible.
Work full-time off-campus during scheduled breaks, if eligible, and if you are enrolled full-time immediately before and after the break.
- Maintain eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work (PGWP) Permit after your studies
Applicants can receive only 1 post-graduation work permit in their lifetime. To obtain a post-graduation work permit, the applicant must currently hold valid temporary status or have left Canada.
If you failed a course you might need to extend your permit to ensure that you have valid status at time of application of PGWP.
After program completion, gather and submit clear evidence of the following:
- Letter of completion confirming met the requirements to complete their program of study.
- Maintained full-time student status in Canada during each academic session of the program or programs of study.
- Received a transcript.
Note: The final transcript and/or official letter must be included in a post-graduation work permit application.
