AI Generated Summary
- They argue that they selected and completed their programmes, and subsequently filed their applications, in good faith on the basis of the information and interpretation of the rules available to them at the time.
- A protest by international graduates in Calgary over rejected post-study work permits has drawn the attention of Canadian border authorities, with officers visiting the demonstration site and checking the immigration documents of some participants.
- The controversy has also reportedly brought attention to the role of an immigration consultancy based in Jalandhar, Punjab, in connection with some of the affected students.
A protest by international graduates in Calgary over rejected post-study work permits has drawn the attention of Canadian border authorities, with officers visiting the demonstration site and checking the immigration documents of some participants.
Protesters described the visit by officers of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) as a “raid”, although authorities have not characterised the action in those terms. The CBSA is responsible for enforcing Canada’s immigration laws, including investigating suspected violations and carrying out removal proceedings.
The development comes amid an escalating protest involving more than 1,000 international graduates, a large number of them Indians from Punjab. The graduates have been demonstrating for nearly 10 days and have also organised a chain hunger strike after their applications for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) were rejected.
The protesters maintain that they enrolled in their respective courses believing that successful completion would make them eligible for post-study work permits in Canada. Many say they spent substantial amounts on tuition and living expenses on the understanding that they would be able to work in the country after graduation.
For families in Punjab, where Canada has long been one of the most sought-after destinations for higher education and migration, the dispute has implications far beyond the affected students. Families often invest significant savings, take loans or sell assets to finance overseas education.
The controversy has also reportedly brought attention to the role of an immigration consultancy based in Jalandhar, Punjab, in connection with some of the affected students.
At the centre of the dispute is the interpretation of eligibility rules governing Canada’s PGWP programme.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has maintained that an update issued in June 2026 did not introduce a fundamental change in eligibility requirements. According to the department, the update clarified existing conditions concerning non-credit programmes rather than altering the core criteria governing who qualifies for a post-graduation work permit.
The protesting graduates dispute the implications of that position for their cases. They argue that they selected and completed their programmes, and subsequently filed their applications, in good faith on the basis of the information and interpretation of the rules available to them at the time.
They are now seeking reconsideration of the rejected applications, contending that students should not bear the consequences of ambiguity surrounding programme eligibility after investing substantial time and money in their education.
What began as a dispute over individual permit refusals has consequently developed into a broader public protest, attracting the attention of federal immigration authorities as well as the Alberta provincial government.
The presence of CBSA officers at the protest site has further heightened anxiety among demonstrators, particularly those already facing uncertainty over their immigration status.
The affected graduates are continuing to press for administrative reviews and legal remedies, hoping Canadian authorities will reassess their cases and provide a pathway for those who say they pursued their studies under a genuine belief that they would qualify for post-graduation employment.
