2 Graduate Certificates = 3 Yrs Work Permit ? Yes / No ?

[Paul-in-Canada]

Can someone plz shed some light on the following topic posted here (cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op12-eng.pdf) on page 29

Exception: Students holding a one-year graduate degree from a provincially accredited post-secondary
educational institution in Canada (pursued full-time) after having obtained, within the prior two years, a
degree or diploma from an accredited post-secondary educational/training institution will qualify for a
three year work permit. This exception also applies to students who have left Canada temporarily
between the graduations.

What I want to confirm is this

Does 2 Graduate Certificates of 1 year each will get you a 3 Year Work Permit ? Yes / No ?

For example, say

• 1st Graduate Certificate is in "Graphic Design" (Duration: 1 Year)
• 2nd Graduate Certificate is in "Illustration" (Duration: 1 Year)

As you can see the Keyword here is Graduate

They have also given an MBA example .... but what about 2 Graduate Certificates ?

Example: A student who obtained a one-year MBA from a provincially accredited post-secondary
institution in Canada after having obtained a one year university diploma, no more than two
years before obtaining the MBA, would be allowed to cumulate both degrees and therefore to
get a three year PGWP.

 

[Kaushik Roy]

Let me begin by saying that two 1 yr. certificate courses ( or diploma) is NOT the same as one 2 year course or 1 yr. Master.

keeping that in mind give this link a very thorough reading. You will find most of your answers here IF u read thoroughly.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad-who.asp

3 yr PGWP is for 2 yr courses and its a ONE time thing only.

My suggestion : Choose ur course carefully

G' luck!

 

[Paul-in-Canada]

@ Kaushik

3 yr PGWP is for 2 yr courses .........

There is an exception to this rule .... Seems like you didn't read the link I mentioned in my 1st post.

Anyway thanks for your input.

 

[Kaushik Roy]

That version is of 2008.. Lots have changed since then. Are u sure ur seeing the latest info?

 

[Paul-in-Canada]

Yes, That's 2008 version. But I didn't find any newer version. So I guess those rules still apply.

If you find a newer version, please share it with us.

 

[ug83]

Guys its a very useful thread......please Answer in Yes on No.....as your current statements are really confusing........... please confirm.......

 

[Kaushik Roy]

for the Graduate keyword it means its only applicable for a Master's degree taken from a university.

This means first u should be having a diploma from any institution and after that if you do a one year master's course (for ex. MBA) then u are eligible for a 3 yr work permit. This 3 yr permit does not (i repeat) apply for 2 seperate courses taken. However u can get an extension but its a different story altogether.

 

[ug83]

Dear kaushik....Thank you for your reply...plz also elaborate the other ways of extending work permit as I have taken admission in 1 year PG certificate in humber college....so as per my understanding I will get 8months work permit after my studies....what other options I will have after these 8 months of work permit.

 

[Kaushik Roy]

For a 1 year course you will get full one year work permit not 8 months. To clarify, 8 months will be ur study time and 4 months vacation which makes a full year of study.

Coming on to the work permit extension issue, you will most probably be choosing either CEC or PNP category of Visa. If you do not know what these acronyms mean then u need to read cic.gc.ca. So, for CEC u have to show 2 years of work. Now how do u get that? After ur course is finished , try and find an employer who will file an LMO for ya (again cic.gc.ca for meaning) In this way u can extend ur work permit and thus apply through CEC having completed year no. 2 in full time work. PNP has different rules for different provinces. Read p on Ontario PNP and find out if u shall qualify or not.

Also note that u need not work in the same field as ur studying.

 

[Paul-in-Canada]

for the Graduate keyword it means its only applicable for a Master's degree taken from a university.

@ Kaushik

Where does it says "Graduate" means only a Masters Degree taken from a University?

READ THIS EXCEPTION AGAIN THOROUGHLY (Posted here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op12-eng.pdf) Page 29

Exception: Students holding a one-year graduate degree from a provincially accredited post-secondary educational institution in Canada (pursued full-time) after having obtained, within the prior two years, a degree or diploma from an accredited post-secondary educational/training institution will qualify for a three year work permit. This exception also applies to students who have left Canada temporarily between the graduations.

Do you see words like "Masters Degree", "University" anywhere in this Exception ?

Also, Check out this thread

www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/need-help-is-this-true-2-year-pg-diploma-course-3-year-work-permit-t67750.0.html

Read the 5th post (by Snake) ...... I am pasting Snake's reply here as well .....

All are graduate degrees, its a general term for all these three types:

1) Graduate Certificate Degree (1 year)
2) Graduate Diploma Degree (1 year)
3) Masters Degree (2 years)

Regards

Also, its clearly mentioned here www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op12-eng.pdf (on page 29)

The student must have completed and passed a full-time course of study or program lasting at least eight months. Whether they received a “degree”, “diploma” or “certificate” is not an issue.

So it seems Nomenclature & Issuing Authority (as long as its a post-secondary educational/training institution) of your award is not an issue ..... when issuing "PG Work Permits".

Also to get admission in a Graduate "Certificate/Diploma/Degree", prerequisite is mostly a Diploma/Degree not 12th grade. So a "Graduate Certificate" is not any ordinary Certificate. I think it can be considered at par with a 1 year Masters Degree in some cases (if not all).

Its also interesting to note that numerous Canadian colleges allow students to convert there 1 year Certificates (done after Grade 12) into a Diploma after studying 1 more year. I don't see why CIC will have a problem considering 1+1 Graduate Certificate for a 3 year PGWP. I mean if they can issue 3 yr Work Permit to a 2 yr Diploma Holder done after 12th Grade, what's the problem with 1+1 Graduate Certificate Holder which would be considered more educated than a 2 year Diploma after 12th grade ?

I know there is a lot of confusion here, Any Senior members, PMM, Leon, Snake ... plz reply ....

 

[Kaushik Roy]

oh no .. confusion rolled out of proportion... ok then i'll draw the line till the point im certain of.

2 1yr courses are not the same as 1 2yr course.

And 2 courses are considered only when first is a diploma/anything and second is a Master's.

 

[ug83]

Cant we get this information from Canadian immigration directly..don't they have any sort of email address?????

It will be great that if we verify this from someone who is official...

 

[Paul-in-Canada]

Here it is ....

www.international.gc.ca/ciw-cdm/embassies-ambassades.aspx?lang=eng&view=d

U gotta find the embassy/CHC nearest you and send your immigration/visa question to appropriate department.

Some embassies provide email contact for immigration/visa inquiries, some do not.

Remember they are Govt Employees and busy too, so keep your queries up to the point and as short as possible to get a reply.

 

[ug83]

Guys if anyone among you can contact canadian work permit hotline...+18882422100....I believe this is only valid for those who are in canada...plz ask the same question from them...plz post their reply here.

 

[ug83]

Friends please contact on this number as this is the Help line for those who are already in Canada..please inquire..I have tried dialing this number but i cannot dial it from Pakistan..please Clear out this confusion directly from Canadian Immigration.

[size=10pt][size=10pt][size=10pt]Number is ...+18882422100[/size][/size][/size]