For now, I can't say anything with certainty about what IRCC will do in December or in April 2021. What I think is that there will be updates (or at least once a month) from IRCC in upcoming months on how they are proceeding with applications and hybrid classes. Right now the amount of Fall 2020 applications and backlog is too much that they can't come up with a plan to allow students to come in. They most likely will clear Fall backlog by the end of October/Mid-Nov. Institutes are updating refund policies around visa refusals for Fall 2020 session as well. It used to be 10th day of the class but now they may extend it till the end of term MINUS the administration fee if visa is refused.
Once IRCC is thru backlog, they will have a rough idea on how many students are still enrolled or approved from May, Sept 2020 and Jan 2021 sessions. I am sure they will make up a plan on how to prioritize students based on mandatory in-person classes, hybrid classes and all online classes. I am also sure that all online term students will not going to be a priority until April 2021 unfortunately even though they qualify for PGWP.
During this time, we will see how Canada and rest of the world is coping with Pandemic along with the timeline of a vaccine. If the curve remains flat and under control in Canada and around the world, I am sure they'll reconsider policies like they have done now. With todays announcement, it's for sure that they wanted to give a message to students to keep this in mind that things are going to remain somewhat same till April 2021. This gives them a break from repeatedly answering same questions. and students can either defer to Jan 2021, Fall 2021 or altogether get a refund and try luck some place else.
My program length is 8 months(1yr). Sep 2020 to April 2021. I understand that I can take the entire course online and still be eligible for PGWP. But my course requires me to be in person at least for the 2nd semester for practicals. My college recently updated the program delivery type for all courses and mine happened to be HYBRID.
Will I still be able to travel to Canada by Jan 2021 if I can prove IRCC that my course requires me to be there?
Also, It would be a huge waste of money to do my entire course online. Sep 2021 is the next option for my course deferral. My course isn't available during Jan 2021 and May 2021.
If I defer then I'll be wasting a whole 1 year.
