Provincial Attestation Letter and International Student Program FAQs On January 22, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a number of changes to the International Student Program. Among other changes, the government reported that for two years, beginning September 1, 2024, there will be a national cap on study permits. This means the government plans to issue about 360,000 new study permits in 2024, a 35 per cent decrease from 2023. This cap only applies to new applications. It does not affect current holders of study permits or study permit renewals. As of 8:30 am ET on January 22, 2024, most students must include a provincial attestation letter (PAL) from the province or territory where they plan to study with their study permit application. There is still a lot of information about these changes yet to be released from the federal and provincial governments. We will continue to provide information as it becomes available. Questions and Answers What is a Provincial Attestation Letter? A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) is a supporting document provided by the province or territory where a student intends to study. Attestation letters will be required for all study permit applications submitted on or after January 22, 2024, unless exempt. I am a current Durham College international student. Will I need a PAL if I plan to renew my study permit? If you are renewing your study permit before it expires, you qualify for an exemption from a PAL (Provincial Attestation Letter) for the reason: I am an applicant applying within Canada as described under section 215(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). I am a current Durham College international student. How will this impact my spouse’s ability to work under an open work permit? The announcement made by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not impact open work permits for spouses of current international students who hold spousal open work permits. Going forward, open work permits will only be awarded to spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs. Spouses of international students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible. I am a current Durham College international student. How will the changes impact my ability to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP)? The length of PGWPs will continue to align with the program length of study. Graduates of PGWP eligible programs that are at least two years in length and completed through a Designated Learning Institute, will be eligible for a 3-year PGWP. How do I get a PAL? All students who have paid their first semester fees are asked to complete our PAL Eligibility Form. This form determines if you need a PAL, which we will request for you if necessary. Here is how to access the form: Visit your International self-service portal, Click on "Check status of application' under Helpful Links on the left-hand side of the page or the green Check Application Status box Sign in using your MyDC login. Your username is your DC student number and your password is your date of birth in the format MMDDYY (6 digits only). After you submit the form, a summary of your answers will be displayed, and you will receive a confirmation email. Please submit this form as soon as possible so that we can provide further assistance on your path to beginning your studies at Durham College! I am enrolled in a graduate certificate program. Am I still required to provide a PAL? A provincial attestation letter must accompany all study permit applications submitted after 8:30 a.m. on January 22, 2024, including those for graduate certificate programs. What is the new cost-of-living requirement for study permit applicants? On January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living requirement for study permit applicants was adjusted to align with the true cost of living in Canada, and help promote student success. The cost-of-living requirement for a single student coming to Canada is $20,635 CAD per year. If a student’s family is joining them, the cost-of-living requirement increases. I applied to Durham College before January 22. Will the changes impact me? Students who applied for a study permit prior to January 22, 2024 will not be impacted by the recent changes. If an application was made to Durham College but a study permit application was not submitted prior to January 22, 2024, a PAL will be required. Please see “How to I get a PAL?” above for more information on how to apply. I have accepted my offer to Durham College and paid my tuition fees, but have not yet applied for my study permit. How will these changes impact my enrolment? If a study permit application was not submitted prior to January 22, 2024, a provincial attestation letter will be required, even if an offer has been accepted and the tuition fees paid. Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will return all study permit applications without a required attestation letter that are received on or after January 22, 2024. Please see “How to I get a PAL?” above for more information on how to apply. Does Durham College provide credentials for courses completed through Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs)? No. Durham College does not have any private-public institution partnerships. Durham College is a public institution. All of our full-time programs are eligible for post-graduation work permits. I have submitted the PAL Eligibility Form. What are my next steps? Durham College will collect the information included on your submitted form. Based on the answers provided we will determine if you will or will not require a PAL. You will receive a confirmation email to summarize your answers. If it is determined that you require a PAL, Durham College will request one for you. This can take a few days depending on when your form is submitted, so we ask for your patience. If you require a PAL, once we have received your PAL from the government, it will be uploaded to your International Self-Service Portal and you will receive an email notifying you that it is available. This email will contain further instructions for your next steps to view, save or print your PAL and a link to apply for your Canadian Study Permit through our partner BorderPass.
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