Worker type: Migrant Students

Care WorkersFarm WorkersFishery WorkersMigrant StudentsTrabajador@s Agrícolas

Migrant Welcome UN Slavery Rapporteur Call for Permanent Resident Status for All

Media Contact: Syed Hussan, 416-453-3632, hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org 

Migrant Welcome UN Slavery Rapporteur Call for Permanent Resident Status for All

Toronto, September 6, 2023 – The Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC) welcomes the statement in Ottawa from United Nations Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery Professor Tomoya Obokata today in which he called for “paths to longterm or permanent residency be open to all migrant workers”. 

The UN Rapporteur was in Canada on a country mission where he met with migrants including 40 members of (MWAC), Indigenous people, people with disability and incarcerated people, persons of African descent and other groups facing exploitation. In his End of Mission press conference today, Professor Obokata said that  was “disturbed” that “certain categories of migrant workers are made vulnerable to contemporary forms of slavery in Canada by the policies that regulate their immigration status, employment, and housing in Canada, and he is particularly concerned that this workforce is disproportionately racialized, attesting to deep-rooted racism and xenophobia entrenched in Canada’s immigration system”. 

He also reiterated that “Newcomers who enter Canada outside of TFWP experience similar precarity. International students who work in excess of the permitted 20 hours per week, asylum-seekers awaiting their work permits, undocumented migrant workers, and those that have lost status are vulnerable to many of the same abusive practices, as they may not report abuses for fear of deportation. Employers who are aware of their status may exploit them under threat of denouncing them to immigration authorities.”

The UN Rapporteur also echoed a call for regularization of all undocumented people, a call that was also made in June 2023 by the UN Rapporteur on Migration.

“The United Nations Rapporteur has yet again stated what we all know, and migrants have been saying for decades – a two-tier system of immigration where over 1.2 million new temporary permits are being issued each year breeds exploitation, exclusion and violence. All migrants, including undocumented people, migrant students, workers and refugees, must have permanent resident status to protect themselves and ensure a fair society,” said Syed Hussan, executive director, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

Prime Minister Trudeau promised regularization of undocumented people and permanent resident status for migrant students, workers and families in a mandate letter commitment in December 2021, 20 months later, migrants continue to suffer. 

Background:

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change is a migrant-led, membership based organization of farmworkers, fishery workers, careworkers, undocumented people and current and former international students uniting for immigration and labour justice. 

www.MigrantWorkersAlliance.org 

Care WorkersFarm WorkersFishery WorkersMigrant Students

Migrant Workers – You may be able to study now!

This information is up to date as for June 27, 2023. Please check back for updates

What was announced?
Temporary foreign workers with a “work permit” (see below for who may be excluded) that is valid on June 7, 2023, or temporary foreign workers with an expired work permit but who applied for an extension June 7, 2023, may be able to study for up to three years without a study permit.

What changed exactly? 
Until now, if you were on a work permit, you could only study for a course of up to 6 months. For courses  longer than 6 months, you would have to apply for a study permit. Now you will be able to study without a study permit until your work permit expires.

Does this change apply to refugees, post-graduate work permit holders or humanitarian applicants with valid work permits? 
It is not clear at this time. Please fill in your information below and we will let you know when more information is provided by the federal government.

Can I study full-time?
Yes, you are allowed to study full time. 

But the work experience you get while studying full time cannot be used for future immigration applications under Express Entry programs. If you study part-time, you will be able to count the full time work for your Express Entry applications. 

If you are applying under the HCCP or HSWP or for the Agri-Food Immigraiton Pilot, it is not clear if you can count work while you are studying full time (but you can count work while you are studying part time). Please fill in your information below and we will let you know when more information is provided by the federal government.

What is part-time study?
Schools have different definitions. Usually anything less than 4 or 5 courses per semester is considered part-time. Check with the school before enrolling. 

Can I start a full-year course if my work permit expires during the course?
We don’t know if you can start a course in September for one year (until September 2024), if your work permit expires in the middle (for example in November 2023). Please fill in your information below and we will let you know when more information is provided by the federal government.

Can I get accreditation for high-school equivalency or one-year post-secondary education in this way without applying for a study permit? 
It is possible. However, you must make sure that the school you are applying to will provide you a certification that you can use. You must make sure that you choose part-time or full-time based on whether you need to count the work experience, and when your work permit expires. 

Can I study online?
Yes, you can study online. 

  • For Post-Secondary education: The post-secondary education must be a “Designated Learning Institute”. Check here to see if the school is registered. Be careful, there are many “private colleges” that are not listed so make sure you check this list even if the school is large and you know other people that attend. 
  • For high-school accreditation: Make sure it is a provincial organization. For example, in Ontario, click here.

Do I have to pay international tuition fees?
Yes, you will have to pay international tuition fees, which is 3-4 times higher than domestic tuition fees.

What are the requirements to enroll at a college or university or to get a high school diploma?
Every college and university has different requirements. You should read their websites carefully to apply. Only trust the information that you read yourself. Do not trust the advice of education agents without checking yourself. 

Fill Out This Form For More Information

Migrant Students

Update on International Students Fight Against Deportation

On Wednesday June 14, 2023, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser held a media event and released a statement after an incredible 18 day permanent protest by Punjabi students in Toronto outside of immigration enforcement headquarters. These students have been “deemed inadmissible” or are facing inadmissibility hearings and several dozen are facing deportation. 

Continue reading to learn what was announced. Permanent solutions are still needed: permanent cancellation of deportation orders, immediate access to regularization and permanent resident status for all – sign the petition to send a message to decision makers: MigrantWorkersAlliance.org/StopDeportations

Based on the information available as of June 14, here is what we know: 

  1. There will be an 8 week case-by-case investigation by a task force of immigration and immigration enforcement officials (IRCC and CBSA) to determine who was tricked and misrepresented by these recruiters.
  2. Migrant students who have pending deportation orders will be given a temporary resident permit (TRP) and will have their deportation halted for 8 weeks as the investigation is underway.
  3. Within these 8 weeks, migrant students who are considered by the task force to be “genuine applicants’ and deemed to not know of the fraud will have their inadmissibility waived and their temporary resident permits will be extended for 3 years.
  4. Those students already deported will have a process to return to Canada.

This is a significant victory that is a direct result of sustained, courageous action by migrant students and their supporters. 

There are a number of very important issues that are unaddressed and concerns that have not been resolved: 

  1. Many of the impacted students have not yet gotten a decision on their admissibility hearings and/or have not yet been issued deportation orders. The Minister did not say that they would receive temporary resident permits (TRP). This leaves the majority of affected students in limbo.
  2. It is unclear if and how students will be able to apply for the TRP. Students may receive communication from Immigration Canada. 
  3. There are no clear details on how students who will be investigated will participate in the proceedings. It is unknown if they will be able to present a case, or have a lawyer present. The criteria has not been announced, and it is not known who the burden of proof will fall onto; i.e. it is not known if students will have to prove that they did not engage in fraud or not.
  4. The investigative process is individualized on a case-by-case basis, even as the impacted students took action collectively and demanded a political response. 
  5. It is not clear what remedies or right of appeal will be available to those deemed to have conducted fraud.
  6. Even with TRPs extended for students, there is no clarity on how people will get justice and permanent resident status. Some are already undocumented. And a 3 year temporary permit means that exploitation, denial of equal rights and protections will continue, with no guarantee that students will be invited for PR at the end. 

As more information becomes available, we will continue to update this page. Permanent solutions are still needed. We deserve a permanent cancellation of deportation orders, immediate access to regularization and permanent resident status for all – sign the petition to send a message to decision makers: MigrantWorkersAlliance.org/StopDeportations

Follow the students at Stand for Student and Naujawan Support Network for more.

Care WorkersFarm WorkersFishery WorkersMigrant Students

Migrant Workers Alliance For Change Reiterates Calls For Regularization And Permanent Resident Status Following New Immigration Criteria

Media Contact: Sarom Rho, 416-887-8315, sarom@migrantworkersalliance.org

Migrant Workers Alliance For Change Reiterates Calls For Regularization And Permanent Resident Status Following New Immigration Criteria

Categories of “high-need” industries highlight the urgent need for permanent residency in low-wage sectors occupied by migrants, including undocumented workers.

Toronto, May 31, 2023 — Canada’s first-ever launch of category-based immigration selection today highlights the ongoing exclusion of migrants and undocumented people from permanent residency. Many of the occupations announced today as priorities for permanent resident status are currently filled by temporary foreign workers, international students, recent graduates, and undocumented workers. But most of them will be unable to apply due to parallel rules. Undocumented people are excluded based on their lack of immigration status; while other migrants are excluded because of language tests that do not correspond to their ability to communicate, excessively high educational accreditation requirements, and being labeled as low-skilled by employers despite performing highly skilled work. Additionally, aging migrants are subjected to punitive measures through point reductions.

The newly selected occupations for priority consideration include nurse aides, orderlies, patient service associates, as well as other low-wage health providers, contractors, supervisors, construction trades, installers, repairers, servicers, truck drivers, and agricultural workers.

“Migrants in low-wage sectors, including undocumented people, are essential to our communities and deserve the rights and protections that permanent resident status provides, irrespective of their employment status. However, this latest attempt to connect workers to jobs highlights the overwhelming evidence that jobs that need to be filled are being done by racialized working class migrants, and they are being excluded from equal rights only possible through permanent residency. We call upon Prime Minister Trudeau to acknowledge the facts, fulfill his promise, regularize undocumented individuals, and ensure permanent resident status for migrant students and workers.”
– Sarom Rho, Organizer, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

Background

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change

Migrant Workers Alliance for Change is a migrant-led, membership based organization of farmworkers, fishery workers, careworkers, undocumented people and current and former international students uniting for immigration and labour justice. 

www.MigrantWorkersAlliance.org 

Migrant Students

Petition: Stop Deportations of International Students, Ensure Status for All

Our names are Ramanjot, Karamjit, Lovepreet, Dimple and Harpreet. We are some of the former international students who are facing deportation after being scammed by education recruiters, such as Brijesh Mishra. There’s not a lot of time left. Please support our fight for justice by sending a message to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser. Read our stories and sign the petition below.


Update on International Students Fight Against Deportation

Read here, and check regularly for updates: https://migrantworkersalliance.org/deportationupdate/

After an incredible 18 day permanent protest by Punjabi students in Toronto outside of immigration enforcement headquarters, on Wednesday June 14, 2023, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser held a media event and released a statement. Read more here about what was announced and what concerns remain.

Permanent protest ends after 18 days of incredible struggle!

Since Sunday May 28, students facing deportation have been holding down a 24/7 protest in front of immigration enforcement headquarters in Mississauga (Greater Toronto Area). Hundreds from the community have been uniting and rallying for justice. Every night, there’s a community gathering at 7pm – with food, speeches, performances – but you can drop by any time. Join the fight for justice!

6900 Airport Road, closest to entrance 93
https://goo.gl/maps/F21q4zSnTyy97Sdk8

Follow the students at Stand for Student & Naujawan Support Network to see more!

June 8: Urgent Action at Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino’s Office!

11am
Thursday June 8
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino’s office
511 Lawrence Ave W
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/NsEumZsKVtUFu2MS6

Join a rally to stop the deportation of international students and call for permanent resident status for all. More than a 100 international students are facing deportation after being tricked by education recruiters. Most of these students have spent more than half a decade in this country, have completed studies, work and live here. Time is running out, Lovepreet Singh’s deportation is in less than a week.

Let’s stand for justice together.

If you’ve questions, contact:
* Sarom: sarom@migrantworkersalliance.org, 416-887-8315
* Gurjeet: 647-575-9607
* Bikram: 647-612-5161

Our stories

Read more about our struggles and stories here:

Karamjeet Kaur

My name is Karamjeet Kaur, and I am facing deportation on May 29th, 2023. Why? I am being punished because my immigration agent tricked me and submitted a fake school admission letter back in 2018 when he applied for my permit. I have been living in Canada for the past five years, I did everything for this country and it is my home now. I did my study in Edmonton College Norquest and got the post graduate work permit. For the past four years, I am working at as a full-time supervisor at a warehouse.

I applied for my permanent residency, but to my shock, I got called in for an interview with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). They told me about that fake offer letter, which I had no idea about before. I never thought that this could happen. I did everything according to the rules, and even got my post-graduate work permit. But Canada still wants to deport me and hundreds of other students.

I have very less time left. CBSA issued me a deportation plane ticket for May 29. But I am still taking action to get justice, so that I can stay in Canada. I applied for a Humanitarian and Compassionate application, and I am asking to get a stay on my deportation until I get the decision on my application, which is in process. I am requesting Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and Immigration Minister Sean Fraser to look into this and do the right thing to ensure justice for me and the other students who are victims of this fraud. Please support us by signing the petition and sharing with everybody you know.

Migrant Students

Migrant Students United: Events & Activities

Current & former international students: Sign up and join others like you for upcoming actions, workshops, socials, and activities.

URGENT: Under pressure, Canada is planning to make changes to immigration rules for migrant student workers. Take 5 minutes to share the changes you want to see: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MSU-Survey

Scroll to see actions in Toronto and across the country.

Toronto / GTA

Saturday April 15, 1:30pm: Brampton Rally to Stop the Deportation of 700 International Students

More than 700 current and former international students from India are facing deportation after being scammed by an education agent. Sign up below to join a rally in Brampton organized by the International Youth Student Organization (IYSO) to stop their deportation and call for permanent resident Status for All!

Saturday April 15
1:30pm
Brampton, Chinguacousy Park
9050 Bramalea Rd

April 4, 12pm: Rally and Petition Delivery at Deportation Minister Marco Mendicino’s office

Prime Minister Trudeau folded to racist, anti-migrant pressure and made changes that make it even more dangerous and deadly for migrants to come to Canada on foot. Less than a week after he made changes, eight people and counting have already died, including a child.

Join us in grief and rage to deliver petition signatures on Tuesday April 4, Refugee Rights Day, to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendocino in Toronto. Sign up below.

March 30, 12pm: Rally to Stop the Deportation of 700 International Students

More than 700 current and former international students are facing deportation after being scammed by an education agent. Why are migrant student workers being punished?

Let’s unite and rally for justice in front of the Immigration Refugee Board, 74 Victoria St. at 12pm on Thursday March 30.

March 30, 12pm: Rally Against Cuts to Healthcare for Migrants

The Ontario government is set to cut access to healthcare for uninsured people on March 31st. Join an emergency rally to call for healthcare for all: Thursday March 30, 12pm at Queens Park.

Three years ago, the Ontario government expanded access to healthcare for uninsured people across Ontario, with coverage of all hospital based care and some community based care.

Cutting access to healthcare will lead to immense suffering and possibly death for migrants and others without health insurance. It also burdens our already strained healthcare system, as people may delay seeking care until they are very sick.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Add your name: Open Letter to Renew PGWP and Fix Express Entry

Get updates & take action! 2023 PGWP Renewal and Fix Express Entry

Sign now: Fairness Agenda for Migrant Students!

Current and graduated international students (Migrant Student Workers) are now the largest group of temporary migrants in the country. We are uniting as migrants for our rights, for justice and dignity. 

Sign the petition to #MakeItFair: MigrantWorkersAlliance.org/MSUFairness

If you are part of an organization, endorse the Fairness Agenda platform so we can unite: MigrantWorkersAlliance.org/FairnessAgenda

ENSURE STATUS FOR ALL MIGRANT STUDENT WORKERS

  • Fix Express Entry: Fair CRS calculations, predictable draws, no one left out
  • Value all work in immigration selection: In any NOC/TEER, work done on the study permit, in co-op
  • No exclusions: PR status for all regardless of age, immigration status, work, language and education requirements

FIX PERMITS

  • Permanently end the 20 hour work rule for study permit holders
  • Make PGWP renewable, and include private college students
  • Allow co-op work authorization without extra permits 
  • Permit protections for vulnerable and destitute migrant student workers
  • No industry of work restrictions

LOWER TUITION, ENSURE GOOD JOBS & ALL SERVICES

  • Fair tuition: No differential treatment, caps on tuition increases, stop the fees 
  • Ensure access to employment and decent work; end wage theft and labour exploitation. 
  • Ensure full access to all services including healthcare, housing, jobs, scholarships, and in-school support
  • Ensure family unity
Care WorkersFarm WorkersFishery WorkersMigrant Students

Assembly: Update on Regularization Campaign and What Comes Next!

Join us online on Thursday, April 27 at 8pm (Toronto time) for an open and anonymous meeting for undocumented migrants and supporters across the country. We will provide an update on regularization, answer all your questions, and share what needs to be done for us to win!

REGISTER RIGHT NOW to get the Zoom link or come back to this registration page on April 27th and join in. Simultaneous interpretation will be available in Spanish and English.

Care WorkersFarm WorkersFishery WorkersMigrant Students

Emergency Rally & Petition Delivery: No STCA! Status for All!

Join us in grief and rage.

Click to sign this petition so we can make sure this devastating policy does not go unnoticed, and shine a spotlight on the need for fundamental change including permanent resident status for all.

If you can’t attend at 12pm, there is also a vigil at the same location at 4:30pm organized by the Toronto Refugee Rights Day organizing committee.

Refugees and other migrants were already dying crossing via Roxham Road because the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) and other immigration laws made it impossible to travel safely. Now, with STCA expanded, both the US and Canada have legislated a policy of turning away migrants. Any refugee crossing over will be able to be deported without due process within the first 14 days of arrival. This will force refugees to take even more dangerous routes and cause even more suffering and death. Prime Minister Trudeau says Canada welcomes migrants, even as he is slamming the door shut and putting migrants in danger.