Need help!!! Am I eligible for PGWP?

[ayehey]

Hi everyone,

Please help me with my situation!

I finished the course requirements of my master program in April 2015 (started in Sep 2013) and I could have graduated in May 2015, but I decided to stay at school to continue to work on my research project with my supervisors. I took only one course last summer and I did not take any courses last winter. Now I have applied for graduation and I will get my degree in February. I never thought there would be an issue for me to apply for PGWP because I read on my school's website that graduate students are considered full time for immigration purposes, so we can take less than 2 courses to be considered full time. However I read cases of refused PGWP due to part time period and I am so worried... Am I still eligible for PGWP? Does research work count as full time studies? Is there anything I can do now to improve my chances to get a PGWP? How can I explain this, maybe by submitting letters from my program or anything?

Thank you so much!

 

[scylla]

It's hard to say whether you will qualify based on the information you have provided.

You can be part time during your last semester and still qualify for a PGWP. But you were part time for your second last semester and took no courses during your last semester. That may be a problem.

Note that you need to apply for the PGWP within 90 days of completing all of the requirements for your program. Make sure you don't miss that date.

I don't know what else to say. You'll have to apply for the PGWP and see what happens.

 

[evanstp9]

See the excerpt:

Full‑time versus part‑time studies in the last session of study

If a student meets all the eligibility requirements, with the exception of full-time status, but is in their last session, they will still be considered to be eligible for this program. For example, at an institution, a student may be required to be enrolled in at least four classes to be considered to have full-time status. However, a student in the last session of a program of study needs to take only two additional classes in order to receive a Canadian educational credential from that institution. That student will still be eligible to apply for a work permit under this program.

Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/English/resources/manuals/bulletins/2010/ob194A.asp

 

[Gregor.Samsa]

Be sure to explain why you took the decision to work in the research project.

Letters from your teachers will help

 

[tonero]

What he said , but as long as its 90 days from your graduation declaration you should be fine.