For many domestic Canadian students, finding time to work, study and have a social life can be difficult. Between juggling work and school schedules, it can be challenging, though not impossible, to find stable footing. However, when it comes to being an international student studying in Canada, the problem of having too much work can be as great as having too little.
Jane and John Doe are two international students who, since the new international work restrictions came into place, have found themselves in a precarious position of being forced to work within the hourly limits or accept illegal, under-the-table employment just to survive. Both agreed to speak with the Omega on the condition they be given anonymity due to their vulnerable positions as international students.
“I work 28 hours per week. My boss understands that you need the money, and he also needs a good worker,” Jane said. “They’re willing to give me a couple extra hours on top of what I am allowed to work. I want to say that they treat me as a family.”
Jane is a fourth-year International student from Central Asia in her final semester of study. During her time at TRU, the Government of Canada has changed the rules for international student employment twice. According to Jane, she has endured tremendous stress because her basic expenses are higher than what she is entitled to work. This situation forced Jane to accept more hours under the table, an action the government would deem illegal and grounds to revoke her permit.
“I was able to help my parents [financially] by paying my rent when I [had the ability] to work [up to] 40 hours. [My parents] only had to pay for my tuition, which is already a lot. I had the opportunity to have a second job in a professional field; however, they would only have four hours available. So, I had to choose my barista job, which was instant money, over a job that would benefit my career in the future,” Jane said. “Now I can’t afford to [get] sick.”
John is an international student from South America who has been in Kamloops for more than a year. When he arrived in Canada, there wasn’t a limit on the number of hours he could work. Currently, he works 36 hours per week, 12 more than what he is allowed by the law. Like many of his peers, John understands he’s breaking the law but sees it as a necessary decision, saying that he wants to contribute to the economy of Canada by working. Like Jane, John is jeopardizing his stay in Canada when he does this, but there is no other choice for him.
“I noticed that it was impossible to survive with only 24 hours [of work],” John said. “In Canada, groceries, gas, university tuition fees and housing are extremely expensive. I don’t have [better] options other than to keep working. I just want to live a normal life.”
The most recent change to working regulations for international students was announced on April 29, 2024, by the Government of Canada and went into effect on November 8, 2024. Under the new rules, international students are restricted from working more than 24 hours per week during school terms without a work permit. The previous policy– which went into effect November 15, 2022– allowed international students to work more than 20 hours per week during school terms with no upper restrictions.
A news release from the federal government in April justified the changes, stating, “As such, allowing students to work up to 24 hours per week will ensure they focus primarily on their studies, while having the option to work, if necessary.”
According to Jane and John, however, the new rules had the opposite effect, telling the Omega that instead of helping them focus on their studies, international students are more concerned about getting the money for the required textbooks and being able to pay for the rent.
To both of the international students, the changes seemed arbitrary. Despite working multiple jobs with hours totalling more than 36 per week, Jane has maintained a 3.7 grade point average (GPA) throughout her studies and has been on the dean’s list each semester, while John has worked similar hours while earning a 3.2 GPA.
“If the regulation of the government [was] more flexible, we [could] improve our grades [and our lives] because [of less stress]. Thinking that you are doing something illegal affects you a lot,” John said.
Like so many of their peers, John and Jane are risking their futures in Canada. If caught, they could lose their international student status, be denied study permits in the future or even be forced to leave the country. Both agreed that overthinking how they manage their finances distracts them from their studies.
“The Canadian Government is treating us as kids. We are all grown-up people who need the money to live,” Jane said.