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\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nAt least five international students who came to Edmonton for an education say they were unfairly denied a post-graduate work permit.<\/p>\n
Lovepreet Singh came to Canada through a study permit in 2024 to attend a two-year Educational Assistant program at Edmonton\u2019s Campbell College. It was advertised on its website as \u201ca career-focused post-secondary institution committed to delivering practical, industry-aligned education.\u201d<\/p>\n
Campbell partners with Portage College, which is a public institution based in Lac La Biche, to deliver some courses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe belong to middle-class families,\u201d Singh told CityNews. \u201cMy parents worked so hard for it. They paid my fees. After that, I worked here for one year and paid my fees myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Singh and his classmates say they were told by multiple parties, including immigration consultants and Portage College, they would be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) once they complete their studies.<\/p>\n
A few months after submitting applications, they say they were denied because their program is a \u201cnon-credit\u201d program, meaning students are taking courses but not working towards a traditional degree. However, some students in the same program were reportedly approved.<\/p>\n
They believe the rules were changed to limit these programs after their applications were sent.<\/p>\n
Now, the students who have been denied have 90 days to leave Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey should have to change their decision because this is not right,\u201d said Gurpreet Singh, a classmate who was also denied. \u201cAccording to their rules, they are going against their own laws.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they announce something new, that should not apply to the earlier ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada tells CityNews there have been no changes to the eligibility criteria for the PGWP Program.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe updated our PGWP webpage in June 2026 to clarify the existing eligibility requirements related to non-credit programs of study,\u201d a statement reads. \u201cTo be eligible for a PGWP, applicants must complete a program of study that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate from a designated learning institution (DLI). This longstanding requirement does not include general interest programs, ESL\/FSL programs, and other types of non-credit programs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Portage College and Campbell College are listed as DLIs on the government website.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Campbell College tells CityNews its partnership with Portage ended in April when the federal government started regulating partnerships with public and private colleges.<\/p>\n
The college says this is the first time it\u2019s heard of students being denied without a specific reason, estimating about 10 per cent of their students in the April grad class were denied work permits who used the Portage partnership.<\/p>\n
Campbell College is now directing impacted students to Portage, who are leading the supports.<\/p>\n
\u201cPortage College has no involvement in the review, assessment, or determination of individual immigration applications,\u201d the institution said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegardless of the outcome of their application, graduates with questions about their immigration options are encouraged to seek advice from a licensed immigration lawyer or a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. To help graduates access professional guidance, the College has provided contact information for an independent immigration consultant on its PGWP information webpage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those who have been denied are continuing to fight to hopefully remain in Canada and work towards a better life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn India, we had limited opportunities. But here, everybody gets a proper chance at every place,\u201d said Lovepreet Singh.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tFive international students in Edmonton are wondering why their post-graduate work permits were denied. (James Dunn, CityNews) <\/p>\n
\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n
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