What is a Post-Study Work Permit?
A Post-Study Work permit is the authorization given to students studying abroad to be employed while simultaneously completing their education, typically within a limited number of work hours. This is often associated with ‘student visas’ and allows international students to work part-time to help support themselves financially or cover their tuition and living costs. When deliberating upon whether or not travelling abroad to study is a financially sound idea, post-study work permits help students within Pakistan realize that they do have options to help themselves economically, and encourage students to be more open to furthering their education abroad. Additionally, post-study work permits enable foreign national students to gain work experience and credible labour service, which further contributes to the betterment of their future employment possibilities.
- Eligibility:
China
Candidates must be 18 years of age and meet physical requirements for their desired job. They must also hold a valid Chinese study residence permit, and their outstanding valid residence duration is greater than 6 months. Moreover, candidates must abide by Chinese legislation and school rules, be of sound character, perform exceptionally, and have no criminal record at all. Undergrads, graduate students, advanced students, and research scholars who have been studying in the current school for more than one year are also valid candidates to be considered for a Post Study Work Permit. Finally, the attendance percentage and academic progression must satisfy the requirements of the concerned institution.
Canada:
For a Canadian Post Study Work Permit, students must have completed a program of study at a DLI, which is a Designated Learning Institution in Canada. The course should be 8 months long, minimum. Students in Canada must possess a study permit that is valid when applying for the Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). The application for the PGWP has to be sent within half a year (180 days) of receiving their last and final transcript or academic completion letter from their educational institution.
UK:
Candidates must have completed a degree program at a credible United Kingdom Institution that is certified by the UK Home Office. International students must ensure that their present Tier 4 visa is valid when applying to maintain their eligibility criteria and pre-requisites. Furthermore, the university students attending respectively must confirm and report the successful program finalization to the UK Home Office before applications are handled.
USA:
When applying for the permit in the US, students’ employment must be directly related to the major they are pursuing, i.e., a law major cannot seek employment at a software house. Students must maintain lawful F-1 Visa status and apply for their Optional Practical Training (OPT) before concluding all academic coursework. Candidates may work before or after the completion of their degree, or even at both times. They are permitted to remain and work in the United States for approximately a complete year after completing degree coursework. OPT work must be part-time at a minimum of 20 hours per week or full-time at exactly double those hours weekly. All OPT must be finalized within a year and 2 months of students finishing their degree, and applications for post-completion OPT must be received by USCIS (U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services) before the summation of their degree.
- Benefits:
Work Experience: Students can gain valuable work experience and employment history. This helps ambitious students with their future employment endeavours abroad, having already been a part of an adequate work environment. Students who have harnessed post-study work permits possess an edge over other students who haven’t completed internships or part-time jobs that have proved their credibility in their fields of choice.
Financial Independence: Studying abroad can be extremely expensive and hard to manage, especially for international students, the majority of whom come from less fortunate financial backgrounds. By having a part-time job, student can ease their monetary burdens by helping pay off tuition fees or helping pay their living expenses. Additionally, students are also taught financial independence and budgeting at an early stage.
- Limitations:
The permit might not grant access to benefits or certain professions like professional sports, which may develop a lack of inclusivity for certain degrees, and further, make it harder for struggling students to ease the financial burdens on their shoulders. Students can typically only apply for a post-study work permit once, meaning they rarely get the opportunity again; thus, if one shot misses, students won’t be able to make room for work experience or a little extra money. In some cases, like the UK’s Graduate Route, no financial sponsor is required, meaning you are not tied to a specific employer, which creates a lot of confusion and mismanagement contractually and monetarily.
In summation, despite the negligible limitations that exist as a byproduct of Post Study Work Permits, it carries numerously more advantageous opportunities and options for international students hoping to study abroad without having to constantly think about their economic situation. So, what are you waiting for? Apply Now!
