Leave of Absence due to COVID-19 and Working Part-time off campus

[Dhaval25]

I am a graduate student at Carleton university pursuing MASc in civil engineering. I was told to apply for an Leave of Absence (LoA) because of COVID-19 for summer 2020 as research labs are closed. This is not an official break as I’m pursuing my thesis. I went through a lot of universities websites and student associations websites such as “Canadian Bureau of International Education” and “Colleges and Institutes Canada” which state that I can work part time during this term as I took an LoA because of COVID-19 which is beyond my control. There is no official statement from IRCC. So, is there any official letter/announcement from IRCC which I can refer. What should an International Student’s should do during this difficult times? Please let me know if anyone has any suggestions?

P.S: I already talk with CERB supervisor she also doesn’t know Whether I’m eligible or not due to COVID-19. Also there is no way to reach IRCC.

 

[scylla]

I am a graduate student at Carleton university pursuing MASc in civil engineering. I was told to apply for an Leave of Absence (LoA) because of COVID-19 for summer 2020 as research labs are closed. This is not an official break as I’m pursuing my thesis. I went through a lot of universities websites and student associations websites such as “Canadian Bureau of International Education” and “Colleges and Institutes Canada” which state that I can work part time during this term as I took an LoA because of COVID-19 which is beyond my control. There is no official statement from IRCC. So, is there any official letter/announcement from IRCC which I can refer. What should an International Student’s should do during this difficult times? Please let me know if anyone has any suggestions?

P.S: I already talk with CERB supervisor she also doesn’t know Whether I’m eligible or not due to COVID-19. Also there is no way to reach IRCC.

Any official rule changes announced by IRCC due to COVID-19 can be found in the link below. If there's no offical statement from IRCC, then the rule hasn't change. This page is updated regularly. I don't see anything here regarding LOEs and working.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors-foreign-workers-students.html

There is a leave rule that was there already pre COVID-19 and it doesn't allow you to work while on LOE.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/prepare-arrival/study-permit-conditions.html

 

[Dhaval25]

Any official rule changes announced by IRCC due to COVID-19 can be found in the link below. If there's no offical statement from IRCC, then the rule hasn't change. This page is updated regularly. I don't see anything here regarding LOEs and working.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/visitors-foreign-workers-students.html

There is a leave rule that was there already pre COVID-19 and it doesn't allow you to work while on LOE.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/prepare-arrival/study-permit-conditions.html

Thanks for the response. But many universities website such as UBC, uOttawa, UoA has posted on their website that student can work part-time If LoA is due to COVID-19. See the attached link. That’s the main reason why I’m confused. Because of LoA I’m not eligible for any financial assistance. If I need any financial assistance then I have to pay fees to the university to become full-time student which is 10000$. And moreover the labs are closed so I’m paying for nothing.


https://www.uottawa.ca/coronavirus/en/faq#international-students
https://cbie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/200320-ircc-covid19-EN.pdf

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thanks for the response. But many universities website such as UBC, uOttawa, UoA has posted on their website that student can work part-time If LoA is due to COVID-19. See the attached link. That’s the main reason why I’m confused. Because of LoA I’m not eligible for any financial assistance. If I need any financial assistance then I have to pay fees to the university to become full-time student which is 10000$. And moreover the labs are closed so I’m paying for nothing.


https://www.uottawa.ca/coronavirus/en/faq#international-students
https://cbie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/200320-ircc-covid19-EN.pdf

But IRCC hasn't said it and that is who you have to listen to.

 

[Dhaval25]

But IRCC hasn't said it and that is who you have to listen to.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[scylla]

Thanks for the response. But many universities website such as UBC, uOttawa, UoA has posted on their website that student can work part-time If LoA is due to COVID-19. See the attached link. That’s the main reason why I’m confused. Because of LoA I’m not eligible for any financial assistance. If I need any financial assistance then I have to pay fees to the university to become full-time student which is 10000$. And moreover the labs are closed so I’m paying for nothing.


https://www.uottawa.ca/coronavirus/en/faq#international-students
https://cbie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/200320-ircc-covid19-EN.pdf

Schools don't have any control over immigration rules. I personally would only trust information that is posted to the IRCC site. If the rule isn't posted in the IRCC site, then it almost certainly isn't in place. Maybe this is something IRCC has considered doing and the schools have jumped the gun? Anyway - you need to find a source for this info on the IRCC web site. That's what it comes down to. Don't bother calling the help desk. It needs to be somewhere on the site.

 

[Dhaval25]

Thanks for the advice.