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Canada has announced additional measures to support international students beginning a new program online this fall, fast-tracking study permit processing and introducing a temporary two-stage process for international students who cannot submit all of the required documentation.

The time since a student applies for a study permit – rather than when they were approved for one – will now count towards a future post-graduation work permit.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said the changes will give students more certainty about their ability to enter Canada once travel and health restrictions are eased.

Students must eventually be approved for a study permit and complete more than 50% of their program in the country.

Approvals in the visa process will be made in only two stages: eligibility and admissibility.

The changes mean that students will be eligible to work in Canada after graduation, even if they need to begin their studies online from overseas this fall,” IRCC explained in a statement.

The new measures include:

• providing priority study-permit processing for students who have submitted a complete application online, to ensure that permits are processed as quickly as possible

• allowing students to count the time spent pursuing their studies online abroad toward their eligibility for a post-graduation work permit, if they have submitted a study permit application and if at least 50% of their program is completed in Canada

• providing reassurances to international students who cannot submit all of the documentation needed to complete processing of their applications, and who choose to pursue programs through distance learning, by implementing a temporary two-stage approval process

“As services begin to reopen, applicants will be required to submit remaining documents and receive an approved study permit before being allowed to travel to Canada,” it explained.

This process is available to students starting a program in the fall semester who submit a study permit application before September 15, 2020.

IRCC is also providing priority processing for students who have submitted a complete study permit application.

If applicants pass the eligibility stage (accepted at a Canadian learning institution and have the available funds) they will be notified of a first stage approval

IRCC said students will receive final approval once they meet all admissibility requirements, including submitting necessary documents such as biometrics, an immigration medical exam and a police certificate.

Canada’s minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marco E. L. Mendicino has made a number of temporary policy changes

“The pandemic has had a significant impact on international students and the Canadian institutions and communities that host them,” he said.

In 2019, More than 58,000 former international students have become Canadian permanent residents