What do international students should do after their graduation in Canada?

There is only a week left until the final exam of the Fall semester, which means that many international students are coming closer to their official graduation and a new journey. It can be sure that a lot of students are wondering: “So what should I do after my graduation?”

Let’s explore some things-should-do that students can consider doing in their upcoming post-study abroad journey through this post.

Make an appointment with an immigration consultant

Most of the international students have the aim of working and settling in Canada after their graduation.

However, it is not easy to completely grasp Canadian immigration programs because of their complex and constant change, not to mention that each province has its own settlement policy.

Therefore, in the first place, it is advisable for international students to book an appointment with an immigration consultant to get the most suitable migration route.

Currently, we have the immigration consultancy service free of charge. Contact VIVAS today for more information.

Apply for your post graduation work permit (PGWP)

The most important thing to do after graduation is to apply for a PGWP, which is the key to open the door of employment and settlement for international students in Canada.

Usually two to four weeks after the end of the final exam, you will get a letter of completion and an official transcript to apply for a work permit online. The average processing time is 3 months since the date of application submission.

In addition to the online form, another way to apply for your PGWP is flagpoling at the US and Canadian border. The advantage of this method is that you can get the Work Permit in only one day.

In fact, by law, after you submit your application online, you will be at implied status in Canada and allowed to work full-time legally.

However, some companies still ask for your physical work permit before being able to offer you a position because they want to avoid your resignation due to your failed work permit application.

The port of entry at Niagara Falls is usually chosen by many students, but this location is often overcrowded. As a result, the port of entry at Kingston is now becoming more popular because it is closer to Toronto and less crowded, which increases the probability to get a PGWP on only one trip.

VIVAS will provide you with the steps of how to flagpole at the border in another article. 

Apply for a job and get prepared for your immigration application

Thanks to the immigration lawyer’s consultancy, now you know which type of job, city and province you should choose to suit your immigration plan.

Although some applicants with previous foreign work experience can apply to become a permanent resident under the Express Entry stream of Federal Skilled Worker without 1 year of work experience in Canada, they still need to find a full-time job for living expenses.

Therefore, it will be beneficial if you contact the career orientation office at your school for useful advice. Most schools have their own department of support for their student’s post-graduation career.

They will assist students in writing resumes and cover letters, creating LinkedIn profiles, practicing interviews, finding jobs, etc. without fees.

After you get well prepared for a beautiful profile and interview experience, you can start looking for jobs on popular job sites such as Indeed.ca, LinkedIn, Monster.ca, etc.

Getting a job can be a difficult journey and also needs some luck, so if you are not lucky enough to get an offer in the first few months after graduation, do not be discouraged and stop spreading your resume.

Remember to take advantage of your free time to improve your professional skills and English ability. 

For those who successfully got a job, you can spend time to prepare some necessary documents for your future immigration plan, such as your credentials, certificates, criminal record, medical certificate, letter of employment from previous employers, etc. and practice English for the IELTS if necessary. 

Finally, after you gain sufficient time of work experience, what you need to do is requesting an employment letter from your current company to add to your immigration application.

Once again, VIVAS expresses the importance of an appointment with an immigration lawyer to get the best preparation for your dream of getting the permanent residence card.

VIVAS has just provided you with some general recommendations for international students. We wish all of you lots of luck in your journey of fulfilling Canada dreams.

Should you have any questions about the procedures for immigration to Canada or job seeking, do not hesitate to contact VIVAS today for more value consultancy.