PGWP took a semester off because of the off-model

[dlee171]

Hi, hope everyone is doing well under this covid situation.

I am an international student and graduating Winter 2021 (I finished my last test last week).
Now I need to apply for PGWP, but there is a thing that has been a weight on my mind.

I started my study in 2017 Fall, enrolled in a 3 year program.
After semester 4, I received an 1-year coop offer and I accepted it.
However, it put me in a off-model and I had to take a semester off when I meant to come back (Summer 2020) to school after the work term because the school didn’t offer the courses I needed to take.
That is, my study plan was like this:

2017 Fall - semester 1
2018 Winter - semester 2
2018 Summer - official break
2018 Fall - semester 3
2019 Winter - semester 4
2019 Summer - Coop 1
2019 Fall - Coop 2
2020 Winter - Coop 3
2020 Summer - Break
2020 Fall - semester 5
2021 Winter - semester 6

It concerns me that I took a break even though I didn't meant to. My school said 'It's considered as an unofficial break because you chose to accept the job offer'.

But recently, I noticed that the government said I can put the study on hold during summer 2020 in without affecting PGWP eligibility if it was because of covid.
So, I wonder
1) Will my case be acceptable if I write about the situation in the explanatory letter?
2) Should I say nothing in the explanatory letter so that the judge(?) assumes that the break was due to covid?
3) Should I lie in the explanatory letter that I took a semester off because of covid? (I wouldn't wanna do it tho)

I appreciate all comment. Thank you in advance.

 

[Simba112]

Hi, hope everyone is doing well under this covid situation.

I am an international student and graduating Winter 2021 (I finished my last test last week).
Now I need to apply for PGWP, but there is a thing that has been a weight on my mind.

I started my study in 2017 Fall, enrolled in a 3 year program.
After semester 4, I received an 1-year coop offer and I accepted it.
However, it put me in a off-model and I had to take a semester off when I meant to come back (Summer 2020) to school after the work term.
That is, my study plan was like this:

2017 Fall - semester 1
2018 Winter - semester 2
2018 Summer - official break
2018 Fall - semester 3
2019 Winter - semester 4
2019 Summer - Coop 1
2019 Fall - Coop 2
2020 Winter - Coop 3
2020 Summer - Break
2020 Fall - semester 5
2021 Winter - semester 6

It concerns me that I took a break even though I didn't meant to. My school said 'It's considered as an unofficial break because you chose to accept the job offer'.

But recently, I noticed that the government said I can put the study on hold during summer 2020 in without affecting PGWP eligibility if it was due to covid.
So, I wonder
1) Will my case be acceptable if I write about the situation in the explanatory letter?
2) Should I say nothing in the explanatory letter so that the judge(?) assumes that the break was due to covid?
3) Should I lie in the explanatory letter that I took a semester off because of covid? (I wouldn't wanna do it tho)

I appreciate all comment. Thank you in advance.

That is considered as leave from studies not from official scheduled break. Officer may request documents to confirm if you were complying with study permit conditions, one of that document is official transcript. While it is true that there is consideration if you put your studies on hold during winter, spring and summer of 2020, to continue to be eligible you must return to full time in fall 2020. With your situation, you were off in Fall 2019, this was before covid pandemic.
So

1. No one can tell if your case will be acceptable, quick look is you were absent from class, chance officer will base decision on that

2.Guidelines is very clear, Winter, Spring and Summer 2020 gives you eligibility for pgwp if you put your studies on hold

3.Dont lie. You cant say you took time off during covid while one of your time off was fall 2019, before covid.

Consult immigration lawyer

 

[dlee171]

That is considered as leave from studies not from official scheduled break. Officer may request documents to confirm if you were complying with study permit conditions, one of that document is official transcript. While it is true that there is consideration if you put your studies on hold during winter, spring and summer of 2020, to continue to be eligible you must return to full time in fall 2020. With your situation, you were off in Fall 2019, this was before covid pandemic.
So

1. No one can tell if your case will be acceptable, quick look is you were absent from class, chance officer will base decision on that

2.Guidelines is very clear, Winter, Spring and Summer 2020 gives you eligibility for pgwp if you put your studies on hold

3.Dont lie. You cant say you took time off during covid while one of your time off was fall 2019, before covid.

Consult immigration lawyer

Hi Simba, thank you for your reply. However, I’m not sure what made you think my break was in Fall 2019. I had 1 official break in summer 2018 which is not a concern and 1 unofficial break in summer 2020. With that being clarified, will your advice be different?

Thanks,

 

[Simba112]

Hi Simba, thank you for your reply. However, I’m not sure what made you think my break was in Fall 2019. I had 1 official break in summer 2018 which is not a concern and 1 unofficial break in summer 2020. With that being clarified, will your advice be different?

Thanks,

Was your coop 1,2 and 3 part of your studies? If yes, then yes my advice will be different, and you are eligible for pgwp as you qualify under covid guidelines for pgwp.

 

[dlee171]

Hi Simba,

Yes, coop is part of the curriculum. I just added some details about the reason I had to take the semester off; since I was in the off-model, the school didn’t offer the courses I had to take when my work term was done.

Then would you recommend writing those details in the explanatory letter (#1 option) or saying nothing and letting the officer assume it was due to covid (#2 option)?

Thanks again for your replies. It kinda makes me feel better that I have someone to talk about it.