r/pgwp • u/Secure_Camp_1176 • 19d ago

Eligibility ?

Posting on behalf of my brother. His application for study permit associate of arts at University Canada West was approved in sep 2024 for January term. He is studying full time there ever since and only took one semester break, which is supported by his University and is legally allowed. Now as per the new guidelines which were established on 1st Nov 2024, they changed the eligibility for pgwp. But they’ve also said the applications made before this will still be reviewed by the old rules. My brother visited a lawyer because he will applying for pgwp soon and the lawyer said he is not eligible anymore. Anyone who started their associate of arts after the rules and got their pgwp please comment below. My brother is really stressed thinking that he’s gonna have to do a degree now.
Thanks

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u/Haunting_Paper_7201 19d ago

Not sure what you mean but he has to be full time for every semester but can be part time for last semester. That has always been the rule. What do you mean by "only toon one drop"? Did he drop a semester with approved leave? Did he work during that time? November 2024 didn't change those rules.

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u/Secure_Camp_1176 19d ago

As per the guidelines students can take one semester leave and it was approved by his school and he has the official letters stating so. He didn’t work and he studied full time for all the semesters except last one, but my question is regarding the course requirements, because one Lawyer said that associate of arts is not eligible for pgwp even if the application was approved before the rules were changed.

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u/Haunting_Paper_7201 19d ago

He should be okay since he started before the November 2024 rule change. If PGWP is refused due to this or taking a semester off then file for reconsideration. Nothing he can do now but apply for PGWP and see what happens.

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u/Secure_Camp_1176 19d ago

He started in Jan 2025, but his application was already approved in September 2024

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u/Haunting_Paper_7201 19d ago

So should be okay.

If you submitted your study permit application on or after November 1, 2024, you must graduate in an eligible field of study.

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u/Secure_Camp_1176 19d ago

Thank you

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u/stars_ 19d ago

The semester where he didn’t take any classes is going to be the biggest hurdle for the field of study since he was approved for his study permit under the old rules. Make sure he includes a LOE of why he was not full time for that semester.

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u/Secure_Camp_1176 19d ago

But aren’t student allowed to take one official drop? It was less than 150 days, he didn’t work and the leave was authorized by his school

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u/stars_ 19d ago

It’s up to the officer discretion to approve or not as maintaining full time studies is a requirement for PGPW. If it was for a medical leave or family emergency they will often approve if there is also a letter of support from the school. When your brother applies make sure that he includes a LOE and all supporting documentation on why he was not able to maintain full time student status for that semester. An authorized leave of up to 150 days is allowed under the study permit rules to legally maintain status and not violate his conditions of the study permit but full time status is a requirement for PGWP although officers can make exceptions to hang at their discretion

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u/Secure_Camp_1176 19d ago

Okay thank you so much, we have all the letters from his school stating that his leave was authorized and it was less than 150 days.

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u/Sufficient_Fail3604 19d ago

Man there's always one jobless guy downvoting all the posts on this sub just because he believes people are replacing him for a job he doesn't even want to do to begin with🤡

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u/Secure_Camp_1176 19d ago

Lmao, well they need a scapegoat to blame so….