‘Can’t take another loan’: Indian student hit by Canada work permit rejection

Indian student Samir Garhwal says he is in a worse financial position after completing his course in Canada than he was three years ago when he moved to the country with an education loan.

Garhwal is among students who have been denied post-graduation work permits after completing courses at Portage College, leaving them to consider returning to India or challenging the immigration decision, The Times of India reported, citing CityNews.

Also Read: Dubai launches first accredited Bachelor of Music programme with AI focus; course to begin in September


Garhwal said he and other students had expected to receive their work permits after completing their courses and then start working in Canada to gain local experience. Instead, a large number of applications were rejected, prompting affected students to protest against the college and Canadian immigration authorities.

Garhwal said he had already taken an education loan in India and did not have the financial capacity or willingness to take another loan to pursue the matter. He also said he worked while studying in Canada.

Also Read: Canada language programmes see sharp drop in students amid visa curbs

Garhwal has started a fundraiser to help repay his education loan. In the fundraiser, he said he moved to Canada three years ago hoping to build a better future through education and hard work. He said he worked towards his studies while managing tuition, living expenses and other costs associated with living in a new country.

Why were the work permits rejected?

The dispute centres on the eligibility of the courses completed by the affected students. Canada classifies some programmes as eligible for post-graduation work permits while others do not qualify. According to the TOI report, the affected students had enrolled in their courses before a 2024 change that made several courses ineligible. The students said they were unaware that their programmes could affect their future work eligibility in Canada.

The work permit rejections have left students who took loans to fund their education facing financial pressure. For Garhwal and others, returning to India could be a more practical option than pursuing a legal challenge, which would require additional money.

Portage College seeks clarity

Portage College has said it is seeking clarification on the work permit issue and has acknowledged the uncertainty faced by affected graduates.

The college has encouraged affected graduates to seek professional advice from certified immigration specialists. It has also said it does not have the authority to overturn or change decisions taken by Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The dispute has left affected graduates waiting for clarity on their ability to remain and work in Canada after completing their courses, despite having already spent money on tuition and living expenses.

(With inputs from TOI)