Backgrounder

Off-campus work permit program

The Off-Campus Work Permit Program for international students at public institutions was launched nationally as a formalized program on April 27, 2006. Prior to the introduction of this program, students were only allowed to work on the campus of the educational institution at which they were studying.

The new pilot project will extend the program to eligible international students studying full time at eligible private post-secondary institutions and enrolled in qualifying programs.

To qualify for an off-campus work permit, international students must:

• Hold a valid study permit.
• Be a full-time student enrolled at a participating post-secondary institution or in a qualifying program that leads to a degree at an eligible privately funded institution
• Have studied full-time for at least 6 months out of the previous 12 months
• Have signed a consent form authorizing the exchange of their personal information between the participating institution, the province of British Columbia, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
• Have satisfactory academic standing in their qualifying program of study at the time of their application for a work permit, and have maintained satisfactory academic standing during the 6 months of full‑time study out of the previous 12 months and since their application for a work permit.
• Continue to fulfil the terms and conditions of their study permit and work permit, as applicable.
• Continue to meet the above eligibility requirements while participating in the program.

While all 25 B.C. public post-secondary institutions already participate in the program, the newly added private post-secondary institutions include the Adler School of Professional Psychology; Alexander College; City University; Columbia College; Fairleigh Dickinson University; New York Institute of Technology; Quest University Canada; Sprott-Shaw Community College; Trinity Western University; University Canada West.

Students who qualify for the program will be able to work up to 20 hours per week off-campus while classes are in session, full-time during summer and winter breaks, and over their reading weeks.

For more information about participating B.C. institutions in the Off-Campus Work Program, visit www.learnlivebc.ca/off-campus-work/participating.htm.