最新消息,加国联邦公民及移民部长日前宣布，马上放宽国际学生在加国工作签证的期限，由现行1年至2年，一律延长为3年，而且国际学生申请时不用提供僱主的聘请证明。新措施即时生效，可以配合移民部在今夏推出加拿大经验类別移民（Canadian Experience Class），希望有更多国际学生毕业之后，申请移民留在加国。 在此之前，加拿大三大城市温哥华、多伦多和满地可，只核发1年工作签证，其他地区为2 年。

　　移民部表示，通过移民部公布的大专毕业生工作计划（Post-Graduation Work Program），未来只要在加拿大认可的专上学院毕业的国际学生，取得毕业证书后，可以在90天內申请工作签证。除了不用提供僱主证明將从事的工作之外，也毋须与所就读学科系相关。移民部指出，国际学生未来只需要有1年管理、专业、技术工作经验，就可以通过加拿大经验类別移民，申请成为永久居民。

　　移民部长宣布这项措施时说：「加国政府需要更多外国学生选择留在加拿大，新措施將使更多国际学生留下来。我们想帮助他们，开放及延长工作签证，提供国际学生更多机会获得工作经验及技能提升。」她指出，延长工作签证期限，不但惠及国际学生，也有利僱主，因为这些获得加拿大经验的学生，可以填补加国劳动市场的不足。这些成功留在加国的国际学生，將为加国引入高科技、电脑领域的人才，增加本国的国际竞爭力。

　　根据联邦移民部的调查，2005年全加专上学院约有3万个国际学生，適用移民部公布的大专毕业生工作计划，也就是从学校毕业后，可获为期一年时间在加国找工作；如果僱主满意他们工作表现，可以替他们申请技术移民，以取得加国合法居留身分。不过，移民部的调查发现，这3万个国际学生当中，只有13,992人取得工作签证。移民部指出，根据2007年的初步统计，现时加拿大有63,673个国际学生，比2006年增加4.6%。

Post-Graduation Work Permit Program

The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows most international students who have graduated from an eligible program at a post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience. A minimum of one year of work experience  in managerial, professional or technical positions (i.e., at level 0, A or B under the National Occupational Classification system) will be necessary to apply to stay permanently through the Canadian Experience Class.

The changes to the program include extending the duration of the work permit to three years across the country for those whose program of study is at least two years (previously, permits could be granted for only one or two years, depending on location); providing the flexibility for new graduates to work in any field and not just their field of study; and removing the requirement to have a job offer.

To be eligible for the program, international students:

• Must have studied full-time for the eight months preceding the completion of their program of studies and have graduated from:
  • a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, university or CEGEP (in Quebec); or
  • a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions, and that receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify); or
  • a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial or territorial statute to confer degrees.
• Must apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation (for example, a transcript or an official letter) from the institution that they have met the requirements of the academic program.
• Must have completed and passed the program of study and received a notification that they are eligible to obtain their degree, diploma or certificate.
• Must have a valid study permit when they apply for the work permit.

Note that if the student’s program of study is less than two years but at least eight months, the student would be eligible for a post-graduate work permit. However, the validity period of the work permit must not be longer than the period of study of the graduate at the particular post-secondary institution in Canada.

International students not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program include the following:

• Students participating in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program or a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
• Students receiving funding from the Canadian International Development Agency and participating in a distance learning program.
• Students who have previously been issued a post-graduation work permit after any other program of study. However, note that graduates who are already working with a work permit issued under the previous rules are eligible to apply for an extension.