Coronavirus impact on international students looking to study in Canada

The novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill and this had a huge impact on the prospective international students, the most. March and April is the time when many schools send acceptances or rejections to students i.e. they inform them whether they have secured admission or not. And May 1, is usually a deadline for students to submit their deposit to book their seats in the school for the fall semester. However, everything from admissions to classes has come to a standstill. For all those who are planning to pack their bags and move to Canada to pursue higher studies but currently are in limbo, we will inform you what you need to do now.

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Recently, Canada has announced concessions on the entry for international students on travel ban which have been in place in the country in order to combat the novel Coronavirus or COVID-19. Canada has announced that international students who have a valid study permit or had been approved for a study permit before the travel restrictions started on March 18, 2020, will be exempted from traveling to Canada by air or land. Many international students must be planning to travel to Canada for spring-term (May) enrolments, will be exempted from air travel and border restrictions. These concessions are announced for both existing students who are currently pursuing their studies in Canada and prospective foreign students who have been approved to study in Canada but were not present in Canada at the time of the announcement of restrictions. Travel exemptions for international students officially came into effect from 26th-March-2020.

Although it has also been announced that students who have been exempted from these restrictions need not travel to Canada immediately and the Canadian administration will announce when the exemptions will be in place. Also, like all other travelers which include Canadian citizens as well, international students exempted from travel restrictions will have to undergo the procedural health checkups as directed by the authorities and need to be quarantined for 14 days upon their arrival in Canada.

International students eligible for emergency support

From 6th-April-2020, the Government of Canada has been accepting applications for the newly announced Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). With this program, beneficiaries become eligible for CDN$500 per week for up to 16 weeks. International students are also eligible for CERB if they meet the following requirements:

• They live at least 15 years old and living in Canada
• They have stopped working because of COVID-19 pandemic
• They must have an income of at least CDN$5,000 in 2019 or in last 12 months prior to the date of their application
• They are expecting no income from their employment for at least 14 days consecutively in the initial four-week time.

Foreign students residing and working in Canada for the permissible 20 hours per week during their studies for the past year can meet the minimum income threshold for CERB.

Other financial assistance programs announced for students

Apart from the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, the government has announced to provide other benefits to students and recent graduates:

• Canada Student Service Grant: With this program, students who offer volunteer and assist with COVID-19 national response in their communities will get up to $5,000 in educational support
• Canada Student Service Grant: These grants are doubled for eligible full-time students to up to $6,000 and up to $3,600 for part-time students
• Student Loan repayments: Government has announced that students’ loans repayments and interests have been suspended till September 30, 2020
• Canada Student Loans Program: Government doing changes to raise the maximum weekly amount that can be provided to a student to $350 from $210
• Canada Summer Jobs Program: Employers will receive up to 100% of the minimum hourly wage for each youth employee an increase of 50% from the regular 50%

Visiting Visa Application Centres

Many Canadian Visa Application Centres (VACs) across the globe are either closed or working for limited hours. New applicants for Canadian Study Permits are advised by the IRCC to apply online or check with their local VAC and avoid visiting in person. Also, those who need to contact the IRCC urgently can use the web form rather than visiting the visa office.

Q. Will restrictions on distance learning in any way affect international students from applying to a post-graduation work permit?

A. Study programs being delivered online will not affect Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program eligibility of international students. Courses are being delivered online in exceptional circumstances, it won't affect the Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility.

Q. International students exempted should rush to Canada immediately?

A. Students or citizens who have not traveled are advised not to travel immediately as the exemptions are not in place yet.

Q. What foreign students staying on a temporary status and their status is about to expire should do?

A. Students or temporary residents who are currently residing in Canada but need to extend their status can apply online. A temporary resident whose initial status has expired and has applied to extend his status is allowed to stay in Canada while a decision is being made on his application.

Q. What will happen to international students whose jobs have been affected by the pandemic?

A. Canada has also announced that international students whose employment has been affected by the pandemic are also eligible for emergency funding assistance.